The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has stated that Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna may never function properly again, despite the reported $18 billion spent on their rehabilitation.

Speaking while hosting members of Global CEO Africa at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote revealed that his decision to construct the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility followed the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s administration’s refusal to sell the refineries to him.

According to Dangote, he and other investors had acquired the refineries in January 2007 but were compelled to return them to government ownership after a change in administration. He observed that despite significant subsequent investment, the refineries have remained inoperative.

“The refineries we bought before, which were owned by Nigeria, were producing about 22 per cent of PMS. We bought them in January 2007 but had to return them due to a change in government. The managing director at that time convinced Yar’Adua that the refineries would work,” he said.

“As of today, they have spent about $18 billion on those refineries, and they are still not working. I doubt very much if they will ever work,” he added.

Dangote likened the rehabilitation efforts to attempting to upgrade a 40-year-old car with modern technology, suggesting that even a new engine would not be compatible with the outdated framework.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had earlier expressed similar misgivings. In a previous interview, he asserted that the NNPC knew it was incapable of effectively operating the refineries but actively blocked private sector involvement.

Obasanjo disclosed that Dangote and other investors had paid $750 million to acquire the refineries, only for the deal to be reversed by the Yar’Adua administration.

“I told Yar’Adua the refineries would not work. I said, ‘NNPC cannot do it.’ He said, ‘NNPC said they can.’ I told him, ‘When you want to sell them again, you won’t find anyone willing to pay even $200 million as scrap.’ And that is where we are today,” Obasanjo said.

He alleged that the failure to privatise the refineries was fuelled by entrenched corruption within the NNPC, and insisted that those responsible should be held accountable.

Obasanjo further claimed that over $2 billion had been spent on the refineries in recent years, with no tangible results.

“If anyone says the refineries are working, why are they now relying on Aliko Dangote? He will make his refinery work and deliver,” he said.

Famous Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo has called out her longtime rival, Lizzy Anjorin, on social media.

Iyabo Ojo issued the warning while alerting the public to hold Anjorin responsible should anything happen to her or her children. This comes just days after her office was gutted by fire.

OSUNDAILY NG recalls that Lizzy Anjorin had earlier announced in a viral video on social media that a defamation case filed against her by Iyabo had been struck out in court. She also accused Iyabo of associating with people who bully her.

Addressing the claims during an Instagram live session on Friday morning, Iyabo dismissed Lizzy’s assertions as false, stating that the case had not even commenced in court.

“If anything happens to me or my children, hold Lizzy Anjorin responsible, we have not started the case yet. That is just ADR. I have been waiting for you to mention my name. The judge threw the case out because she wanted peace. You said I always associate myself with those that bully you. Lizzy, we aren’t friends and I do not owe you any explanation about who I choose to be close to,” Iyabo Ojo declared.

OSUNDAILY NG reports that this came just a few hours after the actress disclosed she had been summoned by the police over alleged cyberbullying.

Watch the video below:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL8w48rIYxB/?igsh=bng3dXpkcmk3cmh5

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has issued a stern warning over an alleged plot by okada riders to launch attacks on task force officials operating within the Kubwa axis.

OSUNDAILY NG reports that a voice note currently circulating on social media suggests that a group of commercial motorcyclists have concluded plans to attack officials of the FCT Task Force.

It was alleged that task force officials recently carried out a clampdown on the motorcyclists, impounding over 200 motorcycles.

Reacting, the police command, in a statement issued on Thursday night by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said such conduct amounts to “criminality and will be met with the full weight of the law”.

According to Josephine, the “command will not hesitate to deploy all lawful means, including arrests, prosecution, and necessary force, to deal decisively with perpetrators of public disorder”.

The statement further warned that the command possesses both the capacity and the resolve to protect public officers, safeguard lives and property, and ensure law and order within the FCT.