Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, has sharpened his criticism of Nigerias fuel regulators, accusing them of allowing cheap imports that undercut local refining and weaken the countrys push toward industrial self-sufficiency. His comments, delivered at the site of his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos, also took aim at the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA.
Dangote said continued reliance on imports was hurting jobs and investment at home, arguing that Nigeria was effectively exporting opportunities while struggling with unemployment and foreign exchange pressure. You dont use imports to checkmate domestic potential, he said, warning that unchecked inflows of refined fuel would put energy security at risk and discourage long-term capital spending.
His remarks moved beyond policy to allegations of personal conduct. Dangote called for a full investigation into claims that NMDPRA Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed paid about 5 million in tuition fees for the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland. He said the figure, if accurate, required public explanation and scrutiny by relevant authorities, including the Code of Conduct Bureau.
