My Refinery Is Not Competing With NNPC – Dangote

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has stated that the Dangote Refinery is not in competition with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), but rather aims to work in collaboration with the state-owned energy giant to ensure energy security for the country.

Dangote made the remarks during a visit to the newly appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, at the corporation’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The visit was part of efforts to foster strategic partnerships and promote healthy, mutually beneficial competition between both entities, according to a statement released on Friday by NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye.

“There is no competition between us; we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of cooperation between the two organisations,” Dangote stated during the meeting.

This comes against the backdrop of previously reported tensions between NNPC and the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, especially concerning the supply of crude oil in naira.

Dangote had recently alleged that certain powerful interests whom he referred to as “cabals,” specifically among major marketers, were working against the refinery’s success.

However, he clarified that the new leadership at NNPC was not part of those efforts.

Dangote congratulated Ojulari and his senior management team on their appointments and acknowledged the significant challenges they face in transforming the national oil company.

He expressed confidence that, with the talent and leadership within NNPC, those challenges are surmountable.

Ojulari, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach between the two institutions.

He assured Dangote of a partnership grounded in mutual benefit, innovation, and commercial value for Nigeria. He also praised NNPC’s workforce as committed, skilled, and focused on delivering results for the nation.

The two executives committed to personally managing the relationship between their respective organizations and to driving continued cooperation to unlock opportunities for shared national prosperity.