The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has stated that the Dangote refinery is not in competition with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
According to a statement released by NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye on Friday, Dangote made this declaration during his visit to the new Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja.
Soneye noted that the visit was part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition between the NNPC and the Dangote refinery.
It is worth recalling that there appeared to be an unhealthy rivalry between the state-owned energy company and the $20 billion refinery until recently, particularly concerning the supply of crude oil in naira.
Dangote recently alleged that certain cabals were still opposing his refinery; however, he clarified that these cabals were the major marketers and not the new NNPC board.
Speaking at the meeting, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPCL management to ensure energy security for Nigeria. “There is no competition between us; we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPCL. This is an era of cooperation between the two organisations,” he said.
The two firms have agreed to enhance their collaboration to ensure Nigeria’s energy security and advance shared prosperity for Nigerians.
While congratulating the GCEO and the Senior Management Team on their appointments, Dangote acknowledged the significant responsibility they face, expressing confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.
In his remarks, the GCEO, Ojulari, assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership based on healthy competition and productive collaboration. Ojulari praised the exceptional calibre of talent he encountered within the company, describing the workforce as dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals who are consistently focused on delivering value for Nigeria.
Ojulari expressed the company’s commitment to building a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, stating that NNPC will maintain its collaboration with the Dangote Group, especially where there is a commercial advantage for Nigeria.
“Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organisations,” the statement concluded.
