By Muhammad Mamman
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to take decisive action against holders of inactive refinery licences.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Dangote urged the Authority to either revoke these dormant licences or introduce annual penalties as a means of compelling compliance. He stressed the importance of accountability and urged regulators to ensure that licence holders either commence construction of their refineries or surrender the rights they have been granted.
“It is the responsibility of the NMDPRA and the government to promote refinery development,” Mr Dangote stated. “I trust in your leadership to engage with those who have obtained licences and hold them to account.
“Anyone who has acquired a licence and made no tangible progress should either face penalties or have the licence revoked. We must ensure that these licences are not merely held for speculative purposes but are used to drive real investment in our energy infrastructure.”
Mr Dangote’s comments come amid growing concerns over the slow pace of refinery development in Nigeria, despite the strategic importance of local refining capacity to the nation’s energy security and economic growth.
