Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Senate will reach out to President Bola Tinubu to stop importing fertilizer to Nigeria.
Akpabio said the aim is to support Dangote Refinery to supply for the country due to its capacity.
Akpabio disclosed this when he toured the new 650,000bpd Dangote Refinery alongside other principal officers of the Senate in Lagos.
The Senate President who commended Dangote and described the refinery as the “9th wonder of the world” said it must be protected jealously.
Akpabio said “It is also shocking to see that we produce sufficient fertilizers for Nigeria and enough to be exported. As I said we will do our report and we will speak to Mr President to put a stop to fertisliser import to Nigeria. You will hear from us soon.”
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“The inability to refine our oil has caused significant hardship. Now, thanks to Dangote, we can produce sufficient fertilizers for Nigeria and export the surplus,” Akpabio said.
on critics
Akpabio criticized skeptics who doubted the Dangote Group’s capacity to complete the project in record time.
According to him, Dangote silenced critics and shamed previous governments that failed to accomplish similar feats or maintain Nigeria’s refineries.
“The entire National Assembly will do everything within its power to protect this project. This refinery is a testament to what Nigeria and Africa can achieve, and it must be protected jealously,” Akpabio asserted.
The Senate President commended Dangote for completing the largest single-train refinery in the world in record time. He contrasted this with the delayed completion of the Vice-President’s residence in Abuja, which took 14 years.
“People doubted this project, but we have seen for ourselves that the refinery is alive and running. Dangote has accomplished what entire nations and continents could not. This is highly commendable,” Akpabio added.
During the visit, Akpabio also highlighted the failure of Nigeria to maintain its refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri, and applauded Dangote for proving that it is possible to dream and achieve within Nigeria.
He remarked that Dangote has removed the shame associated with Nigeria’s oil discovery in 1958, which had led to the country exporting crude oil only to import refined products.
On his part, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the refinery put Lagos and Nigeria on the world map of excellence. “This refinery is a privilege for our time, our state, and our country. Dangote has once again shown that dreams can become reality,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu added that with such projects from Dangote Group Nigeria will achieve its projected GDP $1trn by 2030.
Dangote reacts
Responding, the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote expressed his gratitude for the Senate’s visit, emphasizing that the refinery produces a range of high-quality petroleum products and will significantly boost Nigeria’s economic growth.
“The refinery will meet domestic demands and export about 50% of its production, generating foreign exchange and creating thousands of jobs,” Dangote explained.
Dangote explained that the refinery has the potential to provide energy security and help in growing Nigeria’s GDP to $1 trillion.
He noted that his group is a major employer in Nigeria, second only to the federal government, and a significant contributor to government revenue.
“The Legislature has a crucial role in protecting and supporting domestic industries. We appreciate the National Assembly’s efforts in promoting a conducive business environment,” Dangote concluded.
