No be small matter o! Bayo Ojulari, wey be Group Chief Executive Officer for Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), don yan say Dangote Petroleum Refinery na like lifesaver for Nigeria energy wahala. E talk this gist during one fireside chat wey dem do for Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026 wey happen for Abuja. Ojulari come dey praise Dangote refinery as critical stabilizer for our energy system, especially as dem dey struggle to run government-owned refineries and still provide fuel for we citizens.
As Bayo dey talk, e say the refinery dey give NNPC beta breathing space, especially when dem dey under plenty pressure to maintain fuel supply. Wetin e talk no be small matter. E clear say, ‘Thank God for Dangote Refinery. Whether you sabi him or not, everybody suppose thank God for the impact wey this refinery don bring.’ And as e dey talk, audience dey clap for am like say dem dey cheer football match.
And make we no forget say this Dangote refinery wey dey process 650,000 barrels per day don really help reduce naija oil wahala. Ojulari dey justify say, na him own refinery give Nigeria this kind relief when legacy state-owned refineries dey do struggle to deliver. E come add say, ‘Thank God say na Nigerian get this refinery, no be some foreign person wey no sabi our wahala.’ Na him talk say this local ownership dey very important for our national energy security.
Even though Bayo don admit say the refinery no fit cover all our fuel needs yet, e still believe say e don help reduce wahala for our supply chain. ‘Yes, the refinery no dey meet all our needs, but e dey give us breathing space. And lucky for us, we be shareholders for that refinery too,’ Ojulari talk am.
For the past, relationship between NNPC and Dangote Group no be smooth ride. Them dey clash like two rival gangs. But now, as per Ojulari, dem don change level. E dey talk say, instead of confrontation, na collaboration dem dey focus. E reveal say, ‘We sabi say we get refinery wey dey work. E no be NNPC own, but na Nigerian refinery, built for Nigeria, dey work for Nigeria.’ Dem dey reason serious matter this time.
Ojulari come drop wetin him call their new strategy wey go focus on collaboration with Dangote refinery, so that dem go fit deliver better value for Nigerians. ‘Our first target na to sit down with Alhaji Dangote, explain our responsibilities, and agree on how we go fit work together,’ na wetin Ojulari talk. Wetin we sabi be say, waiting dey happen now na different from wetin dem dey do before.
For the refinery matter, Ojulari come exposé say NNPC don halt operation for their state refineries after dem see say e dey waste plenty funds. E talk say dem gatz stop the rot wey dey happen all these years. Dem deferment don also provide chance to review wetin dey happen and focus on better strategy for future.
With eyes on the prize, Ojulari don talk say dem dey negotiate with plenty companies wey wan invest inside our refineries, even some Chinese company wey get large petrochemical plant don show interest. Na only we go see how we fit turn things around for our oil production and stop reliance on imported fuel. Wetin matter be say, we no go just operate any how, but make sure say we dey run sustainably, so that Naija go fit enjoy better fuel for many years to come!
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