Dele Oye: NNPC’s Monopoly Claim Against Dangote Embarrassing, Clear Sabotage Of Local Business
- +“NNPC was solely importing for it.”
- +“Dangote’s emergence broke NNPC’s monopoly.”
- +“Dangote does not have power to stop BUA today from starting his own refinery.”
Dele Oye says NNPC’s monopoly allegations against Dangote Refinery lack evidence and damage Nigeria’s industrial credibility.
Dele Oye says NNPC’s monopoly allegations against Dangote Refinery lack evidence and damage Nigeria’s industrial credibility.
Former President of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), Dele Oye, has described the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s monopoly allegations against Dangote Refinery as a deliberate attempt to sabotage a local business.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Oye criticised NNPC’s defence in the ongoing court dispute involving Dangote Refinery’s challenge against fuel import licences issued to rival marketers.
“First of all, it’s a huge embarrassment to all of us. That Dangote has to go to court on such an issue,” Oye said.
He questioned the basis of NNPC’s argument that Dangote Refinery could create monopoly risks in the downstream petroleum sector.
“They said they are trying to avoid monopoly. They are trying not to affect supply chains. Where is the evidence?” he asked.
“There is nothing like monopoly here. It is just a clear case of trying to sabotage a local business.”
Oye argued that Dangote Refinery had instead broken NNPC’s previous dominance in fuel importation.
“This is the same language that has been used by our several years of importation, which NNPC said was the monopoly for the PIA,” he said.
“NNPC was solely importing for it.”
“Dangote’s emergence broke NNPC’s monopoly.”
He also rejected claims that Dangote Refinery had the powers associated with monopoly control, saying the company could not prevent other investors from entering the market.
“Because when you talk about monopoly, it means you have the ability to control the price, regulate orders from coming to the market,” Oye said.
“Dangote does not have power to stop BUA today from starting his own refinery.”
Oye further said the reasons being advanced by NNPC for issuing import licences against Dangote Refinery’s position did not add up.
“All I’m saying is, the reason given that is because they want to fight monopoly does not arise,” he said.
“What I’m saying in a nutshell, there’s nothing wrong in importing. For you to import, the reason being given does not make sense. Does not add up.”
He added that there was no evidence publicly presented by NNPC to support its claims against Dangote Refinery.
“There’s no information out there. There’s no way you can benchmark their claim that they are fighting monopoly,” he said.
Oye warned that the dispute was damaging Nigeria’s reputation and sending negative signals to investors.
“It is not a case that should go to court. It is very embarrassing for Nigeria,” he said.
“It is a huge blow to our industrial capacity, because everybody is laughing at us.”
