The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said the continued importation of fuel and refusal by the marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL to patronise his refinery has resulted in loss of billions of naira in revenue for him.
While speaking after closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on the naira-for crude policy, Dangote said 500 million litres of fuel are stored in tanks in the refinery but lamented that marketers are not patronising him.
He noted that the refinery has enough fuel to meet the demand of Nigerians and urged marketers and NNPCL to come forward and pick them.
“We’re more than ready. On the streets, one thing that you have to understand is that we are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail. If I’m in the business of retail then you hold me responsible.
“But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick, if they don’t, come forward and pick, what do you want me to do? That’s something that I can do.
“So I am expecting either NNPC or the marketers to stop importing; they should come and pick because we have what they need. And you know, as they move, I will be pumping,” he said
He added: “I don’t know whether you understand what it takes to keep a billion litres inside our tank. It’s costing me money every day. If I can collect the naira, I can charge somebody 32% in interest. So right now, that’s what I’m losing.
“And you are talking about 500 million, you know, I mean, we don’t print money. But the issue is that if they come and collect then you will not see any queues in the filling stations.”