1 month ago
13
Nigeria’s billionaire businessman, Mr Femi Otedola, yesterday waded into the ongoing substance proviso disagreement betwixt the Dangote Refinery and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers
Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), advising the relation to innovate oregon perish.
The philanthropist stressed that helium had followed the statement astir the substance proviso issues betwixt some parties recently, the billionaire entrepreneur noted that helium felt compelled to supply immoderate perspective, particularly arsenic it relates to the aboriginal of the country.
In a connection connected caller issues successful the lipid and state sector, particularly successful the downstream, Otedola besides congratulated Aliko Dangote connected the occurrence achieved truthful acold since his refinery commenced operations, describing it arsenic a historical leap for Nigeria’s vigor independency and economical future.
Otedola posited that Nigeria remains threatened by entrenched cabals who inactive judge they tin defy change, but maintained that past has shown clip and again that alteration tin lone beryllium delayed, but ne'er halted.
Going down representation lane, Otedola recalled that helium founded DAPPMAN 23 years ago, specifically successful 2002, with a wide ngo to situation the dominance of the large marketers and springiness autarkic depot owners a just level to thrive.
According to him, astatine the time, the relation aimed to capable captious proviso gaps near by an inefficient downstream system. However, helium emphasised that since then, times person changed, with galore of the archetypal players having exited the scene, and those left, clinging to assets that nary longer bespeak today’s concern realities.
“But past has shown clip and again: you tin hold change, frustrate it, adjacent sabotage it but you tin ne'er halt it. I founded DAPPMAN successful 2002 (23 years ago) with a wide mission, to situation the dominance of the large marketers and springiness autarkic depot owners a just level to thrive.
“I personally structured the group, appointing the precocious George Enenmoh, past Managing Director of Ascon Oil, arsenic Chairman, portion I served arsenic Vice Chairman and Sayyu Dantata arsenic Secretary. At the time, depot ownership was strategic. We were filling captious proviso gaps near by an inefficient system.
“But times person changed. Many of the archetypal players person exited the scene, and those near are clinging to assets that nary longer bespeak today’s concern realities . I advised immoderate of them arsenic acold backmost arsenic past twelvemonth to merchantability their depots arsenic scrap portion they inactive had value. Nigeria present has implicit 4 cardinal metric tons of retention capacity, astir of it idle. With the Dangote Refinery present supplying substance locally, the aged concern exemplary is crumbling.
“Zenon Oil pioneered the modern diesel concern successful Nigeria and grew to go the largest supplier successful the country. We built depots to store our imported diesel due to the fact that the marketplace was import-driven and riddled with inefficiencies. But with Dangote’s refinery afloat operational, those gaps nary longer exist.
“We present person home accumulation and section proviso efficient, reliable, and proudly Nigerian. Furthermore, we indispensable not neglect to recognise the attendant benefits of eliminating the grid fastener astir the Ibafon, Tincan and Apapa areas owed to the operations of the Dangote Refinery,” Otedola argued.
Today, much than conscionable producing fuel, Otedola noted that Aliko Dangote has elevated the full logistics chain, purchasing 8,000 marque caller CNG eco-friendly trucks that volition administer crossed the state with little contamination and less breakdowns, dissimilar the aging, rickety trucks inactive utilized by immoderate operators.
He added: “I cognize this concern intimately. I was king of it and astatine the highest of it successful 2005 (20 years ago), I was conferred with the beingness patron of the PTD (Petroleum Tanker Drivers) national by Mr Akinlaja. So, erstwhile I accidental the crippled has changed, I talk from heavy experience.
“What is DAPPMAN warring for today? To sphere a exemplary built connected substance imports, subsidy exploitation, and outdated infrastructure? That epoch is accelerated disappearing. The mounting up of depots was chiefly to cod PFIs. No depots, nary PFIs (Pro Forma Invoices) from NNPC who were sole suppliers of gasoline (petrol) astatine the clip and which frankincense led to the breeding of complacent importers whose sole docket was connected arbitrage and subsidy margins.”
Since determination are nary much PFIs, the businessman argued that determination is nary crushed wherefore the Dangote Refinery should subsidise DAPPMAN with N1.5 trillion which they are asking Dangote Refinery to wage and subsequently walk this outgo to consumers.
While saluting the courageousness of ‘my member Aliko Dangote, similar Amazon Incorporated’ successful bringing astir transformative alteration successful the downstream sector, Otedola emphasised that the story that depots make monolithic employment was untrue.
“Depots bash not thrust employment arsenic immoderate claim...
English (US) ·