Ethnic Youth Leaders React As Dangote Accuses International Oil Companies Of Sabotage

The Apex umbrella body for the over 407 ethnic nationalities youth leaders in Nigeria, on Tuesday, reacted to the accusations made by the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin, that International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria are sabotaging the Dangote Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals.

Speaking recently to a group of Energy Editors at a one-day training programme organised by the Dangote Group, Edwin said the IOCs are intentionally obstructing the refinery’s efforts to purchase local crude.

This, he said the firms do by inflating premium prices above market rates, compelling the refinery to import crude from distant countries leading to significantly higher costs.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, President General of the youth leaders, Terry Obieh, while describing the situation as unacceptable, said it was strange that all the hopes the citizens placed on the Dangote refinery to bring down the cost of fuel were being frustrated.

Obieh said: “These are not matters to be swept under the carpet; they are both interconnected and have to be addressed by the Federal Government.

“The indices point that a certain cabal has vowed never to allow local refinery of petroleum products in Nigeria, all in a bid to remain as the sole importer of the commodity and exploit Nigerians.

“We declare today that enough is enough; Nigerians have suffered enough, whereas a few people are feeding fat.

“The liberalization of the petroleum industry was meant to be a blessing to the country but the reverse is the case, this is not to talk of the PIB which also talks of giving consideration to local refineries, but none of this is happening.”