The Arewa Youth Assembly has called on Africa’s biggest refinery owner, Aliko Dangote to reveal the actual cost of his premium motor spirit and should not shift its liabilities to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
The group made the call after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery said that it is negotiating with the NNPC Ltd on price.
Dangote also said that the Federal Executive Council would determine the price of his PMS which the Minister of State Petroleum (Oil), Heneiken Lokpobiri refuted.
Dangote launched his PMS brand last week amidst the review of the price of the product which now sells above N800 per litre.
The debate led to several reactions which triggered the Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) to accuse NNPC Ltd of frustrating Nigerians with price hike.
The group also accused the state-owned firm of sabotaging the Dangote Refinery.
But the Arewa Youth Assembly in a statement sent to NewsNGR and signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami cautioned the group against inciting Nigerians against the NNPC Ltd.
Danlami said he is “Shocked and disappointment at MURIC. As an organisation that portray itself as religious, it should abide by the teachings of that religion.
“MURIC is found on the other side spreading false and unverified information, which is cautioned against in the holy Qur’an Chapter 25 verse 72. This is to say that MURIC has been bastardized, its aim is defeated and the organisation no longer works in line with it’s goals.
“It has turned partisan, political and only uses religion as a tool when needed to serve it’s selfish desires. MURIC blaming the NNPCL for the hike in price of PMS is laughable. It doesn’t require rocket science for one to know that the prices of petroleum products from any refinery including the Dangote refinery is determined mainly by global market forces and other parameters.”
The group explained that prices of PMS are determined by market forces in line with global best practices.
According to the Northern group, the NNPC is bound by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
He estimated that the cost of purifying a single liter of petroleum at the refinery exceeds N800, adding it understands that the landing cost stands at around N1,117.
Arewa Youth said, “Consequently, we urged Dangote to reveal his production costs rather than shifting blame to the NNPCL through organisations like MURIC. As a matter of fact, we dare the Dangote refinery, to transparently disclose the cost of refining a liter of fuel, this transparency will enable Nigerians to hold the right parties accountable.
“It is absurd and unacceptable to state that the NNPCL will determine the price of his product as a private entity or become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment. There are 3 refineries that NNPCL has exclusive power to determine the PMS price. Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries. Dangote is not one of them.
“If Dangote refinery truly cares for Nigerians, why not sell his products at a lower price since the Dangote refiner and any other domestic refinery is free to sell directly to any marketer.”