NNPCL crucial to our operation — Dangote

President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has stated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is not competing with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stressing that NNPCL “is part and parcel of our business.”

According to a statement by the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, on Friday, Dangote stated this when he visited the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja.

The visit, Soneye said, was part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition between the NNPC and the Dangote refinery.

Recall that there seemed to be an unhealthy rivalry between the state-owned energy company and the $20bn refinery until recently, especially with the supply of crude oil in naira.

Dangote recently alleged some cabals were still fighting against his refinery, though he clarified that the cabals were the major marketers and not the new NNPC board.

Speaking at the meeting, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.

“There is no competition between us; we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organisations.” Dangote added.

The two firms agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians.

While congratulating the GCEO and the senior management team on their appointments, Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that the GCEO was shouldering a monumental task, which he expressed confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.

In his remarks, the GCEO, Ojulari, assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.

Ojulari highlighted the exceptional calibre of talent he met in the company, describing the workforce as dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.

Expressing the company’s readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Ojulari said NNPC will sustain its collaboration with the Dangote Group, especially where there is a commercial advantage for Nigeria.

“Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organisations,” the statement concluded.