Youth Groups Defend Dangote Refinery Against Sulphur Petrol Claims

The Arewa and Ohanaeze Youth groups have called on those they described as detractors to stop their baseless attacks against the Dangote Refinery with the malicious aim of destroying the brand’s towering profile.

The youths of Northern States and South-eastern States, made the call in reaction to recent reports alleging that Dangote Refinery was importing finished petrol (Premium Motor Spirit, PMS) with high sulphur content into Nigeria.

In a statement jointly signed by their national leaders, the Arewa consultative youth forum led by Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Ohanaeze youths movement led by Anderson Achilike, they said Nigeria can not keep importing fuel, hence Dangote and other local refineries should be supported instead of being attacked.

The northern and eastern youths vowed to rise in the protection of Dangote Refinery against sworn enemies of not just the company but the country because since its inauguration, the refinery which stood at 650,000 barrels per day, has addressed the energy crisis.

“We have notice with utter dismay the renewed campaign of calumny against the Dangote Refinery by enemies of the nation inorder to cast aspersions on the top local refinery which is revolutionalising Nigeria’s energy sector.

“In their recent outing, the detractors came with fake news that Dangote Refinery imported fuel with Sulphur. These lies from the pit of hell have been debunked even by global bodies, therefore, reinforcing our position that whole tale is the handiwork of mischief makers.

“For instance, the United Kingdom–based energy watchdog, Impact Investigators Platform (IIP), has dismissed allegations that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery imported substandard petrol into Nigeria, describing the claims as “technically inaccurate, commercially implausible, and unsupported by verifiable evidence”.

“In an investigative report signed on Friday by its lead investigator, Raymond Neil, the IIP said its independent assessment of shipping data, customs declarations, and refinery process documentation found no indication that the refinery imported or sold finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit of 50 parts per million (ppm).

“Neil said the IIP launched its own investigation after media reports claimed that a vessel had delivered high-sulphur petrol to the Dangote Refinery under the guise of locally refined products. ‘Our analysis confirms that the shipment being referenced was a blending component, not a finished petrol product.’

“With this global confirmation and concern, we call on those detractors and enemies of our collective progress to desist forthwith from this act of Sabotage against Dangote because we will seat and watch them destroy what is in our country’s interest.”