By: Roberta Gayode Modin
Few weeks ago, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote won the admiration of many on the continent for constructing a $20 billion refinery; the biggest refinery in the history of Africans.
Then came the spoiler from the front page of Energy Times in Nigeria just when Nigerians thought the billion dollar project would bring a permanent end to their fuel crisis.
”NNPC grants fuel import license permit to Dangote”, reads the newspaper written in bold letters.
This news has generated conversations with many Nigerians questioning the purpose of the refinery.
“What a country? Few weeks ago they told you they commissioned the Dangote refinery and Dangote has paid 70% of the money he borrowed to build the refinery and there will be no more fuel shortage, suddenly they have issued him a permit to import fuel. How can you explain this?” Chinasa Nworu asked in a tweet.
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have taken to Twitter to express their anger at the turn of events. Some tweets from Nigerians accused Dangote of tactically taking undue advantage of the government under the pretense of investing in an oil refinery.
“Dangote is not a dollar billionaire, not by any stretch. He gets duty and tax waivers and import license. He enjoys undue government advantages and patronage. The crony capitalist- in -chief can’t compete here in America. Remove government patronage and you will see his dwindling fortunes”, reads another tweet from Nefertiti on the topic.
