Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has called upon Nigerians to seek divine intervention in light of ongoing efforts by influential cabals aiming to undermine the success of private refineries in the country.
In a video during the church’s annual Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service, themed ‘Total Restoration,’ Adeboye expressed concerns that influential oil and gas sector figures are actively working to thwart private refinery initiatives that threaten fuel imports’ profitability. He urged a nationwide prayer campaign to combat these challenges.
While he did not directly reference the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Adeboye’s remarks highlighted the significant hurdles private refinery projects face, hindered by oil marketers keen to protect their lucrative importation business.
Expressing his frustration, Adeboye pointed to the billions of naira spent trying to revitalise the nation’s four government-owned refineries operating below capacity. “Before our president took office, it was clear that our financial troubles were linked to the massive costs of petrol importation. How can we import petrol when we have abundant crude oil right here?” he questioned.
He elaborated, “When the President ended the expensive petrol imports, we celebrated, but some were displeased—those benefiting from the imports. Suddenly, the naira started to decline. I encouraged my followers to pray and give thanks, and many joined. Without divine intervention, the naira would have faced even greater challenges.”
Adeboye reiterated that his concerns are rooted in his ministerial duties, not political aspirations. He noted, “God has raised an individual committed to establishing a private refinery, ensuring at least one refinery operates if the government ones do not. However, this individual faced obstacles in sourcing local crude and was forced to import from America. Even when he received local access, attempts were made to control the prices he could sell.”
He highlighted the legal challenges confronting the refinery, where demands were placed on the owner to adhere to external pricing structures to maintain the importation framework. “Despite significant investments, we have four non-functional government refineries, yet with one working private refinery, they are obstructing his ability to sell fuel. Are we under a curse?” he questioned.
Adeboye called on Nigerians to pray against these barriers, cautioning that the continued reliance on fuel imports is detrimental to the economy and drives up the cost of petroleum products, ultimately affecting the lives of all citizens.
