I don’t want to compete with NNPC -Dangote

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has clarified that his refinery is not in competition with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), but rather aligned with it in the goal of ensuring Nigeria’s energy security.

Dangote made this known during a visit to the new Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja.

The meeting, according to a statement issued by NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye on Friday, was aimed at deepening cooperation between the two energy giants.

“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 cooperation between the two organisations,” Dangote said during the meeting.

In recent times, there have been reports of tension between the state-owned oil company and the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, particularly concerning the supply of crude oil in naira. Dangote had previously accused certain elements—specifically major marketers—of working against the refinery’s progress, although he made it clear that the current NNPC board was not among them.

During the visit, Dangote expressed a willingness to work closely with the new NNPC leadership. He congratulated Ojulari and his senior management team on their appointments, noting the significant challenges they face and expressing confidence in their capacity to deliver results.

The two organisations agreed to strengthen ties and collaborate on strategies aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and fostering economic growth.

Ojulari, in his response, reiterated NNPC’s readiness to build a mutually beneficial partnership with the Dangote Group.

He praised the talent within the company, describing the workforce as “dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.”

NNPC, he said, would continue to partner with the Dangote Group wherever such collaboration could offer commercial advantages for the country.

“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.