Victor Ezeja
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has applauded the achievement of Aliko Dangote for the successful completion of his 650,000 bpd-capacity refinery located in Lagos.
Atiku stated that Dangote’s achievement with the refinery not only reflects his resilience and strong business acumen but also what corporate entities in Nigeria can do to recover and boost the Nigerian economy.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a post on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku said Dangote has through the $20 billion refinery project and other investments in Nigeria, demonstrated his love and belief in his fatherland.
“Let me congratulate and appreciate the efforts of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as the Dangote Refinery begins production of PMS. It demonstrates his tenacity and ‘can do’ spirit and his belief in his fatherland,” Atiku stated.
“This remarkable accomplishment is beyond a demonstration of the business acumen of just one man. It is also a manifestation of what corporate Nigeria can do to recover the Nigerian economy and make it strong, dynamic, and resilient.”
He said Dangote’s adventure aligns with his long quest for having an expanded presence of the private sector in the Nigerian economy. “I am an unrepentant advocate for a strong and visible participation of the private sector in strategic sectors of the economy, either alone or in partnership with the state.”
He recalled the challenges Dangote faced while building the refinery but was able to overcome them.
Speaking on the challenges in the country’s economic system, the former vice president accused the APC-led government of unleashing on Nigeria the worst economic reform that has eroded private sector confidence in the economy since 2015.
He called on the federal government to create regulations that support private sector participation to boost job creation and economic growth.
“If the private sector must step forward to invest, create jobs, and drive growth, the government must roll out more supportive regulations and deliver them efficiently.
“The worst damage done by the APC-led government since 2015 is to unleash difficult-to-implement-and-sustain ‘reform’ initiatives that erode private sector confidence in our economy and drive investors away from our shores.
“There are a few major milestones ahead as Nigeria journeys toward attaining energy self-sufficiency. I hope Aliko will continue to lend his unwavering support on this journey,” Atiku stated.
Prime Business Africa had reported on Tuesday, that Dangote announced that his refinery is ready to roll out petroleum products.
READ ALSO: Dangote Refinery Rolls Out First PMS Products
The billionaire businessman said the refinery has the capacity to not only serve the Nigerian market but Sub-Saharan Africa.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
