The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajearo, has fiercely criticised the ongoing rift between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery, attributing it to what he described as government policy somersaults and the manipulative actions of certain vested interests.
Speaking to journalists at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajearo condemned the conflict between the state oil company and Africa’s largest refinery as unnecessary, emphasising that in a deregulated economy, the principles of choice and competition must be upheld.
Ajearo raised concerns about the state’s interference in pricing strategies, particularly questioning why the government would dictate the terms of how Dangote Refinery sells its locally produced petroleum. “For a product produced here—without the burden of foreign exchange or landing costs—they want him to sell it at the same price as the one imported from abroad. That is fraudulent and unacceptable,” he said.
“What we are witnessing is a policy somersault. Nigerians were led to believe the sector was deregulated, and in such a system, there should be choice and competition. Why then is there an attempt to regulate Dangote’s pricing? Why?” Ajearo added, urging the public to take a stand against the government’s overreach.
Ajearo’s critique extended to the broader economic policy landscape. “When Port Harcourt refinery comes online, let the NNPC sell their products, and let Dangote do the same. But when you start regulating prices for a private player like Dangote, that’s pure fraud,” he remarked.
He highlighted that the crux of the issue lies in the government reneging on its promise to step back from economic regulation. “They told us deregulation meant the private sector would take the reins of the economy, with government staying out of business. But now, the same government is trying to regulate private sector operations,” he said.
Ajearo’s comments point to deeper concerns over the government’s approach to managing the oil sector, as stakeholders and citizens alike are left questioning the extent to which deregulation has truly been implemented.
