The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has accused billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote of having an ulterior motive to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, Speaker Mohammed Salihu Danlami voiced concerns over Dangote’s actions and their potential impact on the current government’s policies.
Danlami alleged that Dangote’s attempts to influence the pricing and regulatory processes within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector are part of a broader scheme to disrupt the administration’s objectives. A
ccording to Danlami, Dangote is seeking to manipulate the market by dictating terms for the purchase of Bonny Light crude oil and pressuring regulatory bodies like 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 has criticized Dangote for allegedly trying to block other companies from obtaining import licenses and for allegedly attempting to discredit the NMDPRA by claiming it licenses substandard products.
They argued that these actions were not just 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.
The group 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.