Dangote oil refinery denies allegations of low grade

Authorities at the Dangote oil refinery, situated in Lagos state, south-west Nigeria have denied allegations that products from the refinery are low grade. Instead, they say the products are of higher quality, compared to those imported into the country and sold to users.

Chairperson of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote made the position on behalf of his team while receiving members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives at the refinery.

The delegation was at the company for insights, following allegations by the country’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority that products from the Dangote refinery are substandard.

Officials at the refinery proved their point by conducting two laboratory tests, after which the results showed that their products were of good quality.

Dangote told the parliamentarians that the refinery had not enjoyed any incentive from the government, adding that they paid 100 million dollars to the Lagos state government for the land where the refinery is built. He also denied claims of product monopoly by his group, saying they have never prevented anybody from venturing into similar businesses as theirs.

Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who led the delegation, said their findings were in contradiction with the claim by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority that products from the Dangote refinery were substandard.

The House has promised to investigate the agency to determine whether there is an ulterior motive against the Dangote group.