Civil society groups have issued a stern ultimatum to what they describe as powerful economic saboteurs allegedly working to undermine Nigeria’s energy independence and frustrate operations at the Dangote Refinery.
At a press conference in Abuja, the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON) accused vested interests of orchestrating moves to weaken the refinery’s impact on the nation’s petroleum supply chain.
Speaking on behalf of the groups, Tabukko Kennedy, National President of Civil Society in Nigeria, asserted that the country has already attained full energy independence citing current output levels from Dangote Refinery which currently dispatches more than 104 million litres of refined petroleum products daily, a figure that is significantly higher than Nigeria’s estimated daily consumption of 70–75 million litres.
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The groups also criticised the Federal Government’s suspension of the 15% import duty on petroleum products, warning that the decision artificially favours importers while placing local refiners at a competitive disadvantage.
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They further announced the submission of petitions to the Presidency and other key stakeholders, seeking thorough verification of claims as well as investigations and prosecution of those allegedly engaged in economic sabotage.