The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has attributed the ongoing conflict between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery to alleged inconsistencies in government policies and fraudulent actions.
During a media briefing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, Ajaero voiced his dissatisfaction with the ongoing dispute, stating that such conflicts are unwarranted in a deregulated market that should be promoting competition and consumer choice.
The NLC President sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu‘s administration for attempting to influence Dangote’s business operations, specifically its pricing, which he referred to as fraudulent interference.
He highlighted that it is unfair for the government to demand that Dangote’s locally produced petroleum products be sold at the same price as imported products, especially considering that local production eliminates added costs like foreign exchange and landing fees.
Ajaero said, “In a truly deregulated market, there should be no interference in how private sector entities like Dangote operate. Imposing restrictions or dictating prices goes against the principles of a free market.
“For a locally produced product, with no reliance on imported dollars or landing costs, they’re demanding he sells it at the same price as the imported ones. That’s both fraudulent and unacceptable.
“What you’re witnessing is a mix of fraud and policy inconsistency. Nigerians were led to believe that the sector had been deregulated, and in a deregulated market, competition and choice should prevail. So why is there now an attempt to control how much Dangote should sell his product for?
“When the Port Harcourt refinery becomes operational, both NNPC and Dangote should be able to sell freely. But trying to dictate Dangote’s pricing is dishonest.
“This is the time for Nigerians to speak out. We were told that deregulation would put the private sector in charge and limit government interference in business. Now, the government is trying to regulate how private businesses should price their products.
“They expect him to sell at the same price as the imported product, even though it was produced locally without the additional landing costs. That’s outright fraud.”
This standoff between NNPCL and Dangote has ignited public debate, raising concerns over the government’s role in shaping the competitive dynamics of the energy industry.