Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, spoke out on Wednesday about the issue between Dangote Refinery management and Nigerian regulatory agencies.
Nigerian regulatory officials accused Dangote Refinery of producing substandard petroleum products, which the business has denied.
Kwankwaso responded via his X Twitter, blaming what he called ‘unnecessary fuss’ on vested interests, claiming it might harm investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
“The creation of unnecessary fuss around its integrity by some vested interests is very unfortunate, and it stands to undo all the years of hard work to maintain the fragile investor confidence in our economy,” he said.
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the 2023 general elections praised Dangote’s refinery as a critical asset for the country’s energy needs and economic stability.
He also emphasised the need of safeguarding the asset against any risks that could jeopardise its functioning.
“I had the opportunity to see the wonderful Dangote Refinery, and I was astounded by the level of dedication that went into its construction.
“It’s time for us to rally around this National Asset to ensure that the monumental project does not fail. It cannot fail, and the Nigerian government must understand this by demonstrating fairness and confidence in both domestic and foreign critical investments,” he stated.
Earlier, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the presidential candidates for the 2023 election, voiced concern over the ongoing battle between Dangote Industries and various government institutions, calling it highly worrying.
In separate posts on X, they expressed concern that the ongoing controversy vilifying the Dangote refinery will discourage important foreign direct investment and harm the economy.
They also stated that government authorities must provide assistance to the Dangote refinery, claiming that the refinery is too important to fail given its critical role in national welfare.