Abuja, Nigeria – In a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) accused billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote of attempting to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The group’s speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, expressed concerns about Dangote’s actions and their potential negative impact on the government’s policies.
Danlami alleged that Dangote is trying to influence the pricing and regulatory processes within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as part of a broader scheme to disrupt the administration’s objectives. Specifically, he accused Dangote of manipulating the market by dictating terms for the purchase of Bonny Light crude oil and pressuring regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to align with his demands.
The Arewa group criticized Dangote for allegedly attempting to block other companies from obtaining import licenses and for trying to discredit the NMDPRA by claiming it licenses substandard products. They argued that these actions are not merely business maneuvers but part of a larger strategy to disrupt the government’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“We are concerned that Dangote’s actions might be aimed at undermining President Tinubu’s administration. His attempts to force regulatory bodies to bend rules in his favor, coupled with efforts to damage their reputation, suggest a deliberate attempt to create chaos,” Danlami said.
Danlami called on Dangote to comply with industry regulations and warned that failure to do so could result in legal consequences. He also urged the National Assembly to make public the results of laboratory tests on products from Dangote’s refinery to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.
“We demand that Dangote cease his attempts to manipulate the system for personal gain and instead support the government’s efforts to foster a transparent and effective regulatory environment,” Danlami added.
