Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has raised concerns about alleged attempts by powerful oil marketers to undermine the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Speaking during the November 2024 Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service themed ‘Total Restoration,’ Adeboye urged Nigerians to pray against forces working against the refinery, which he described as a divine solution to Nigeria’s fuel crisis.
Although he did not explicitly name the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Pastor Adeboye alluded to its pivotal role as the only facility currently refining petrol in Nigeria. His remarks pointed to ongoing efforts by oil marketers to perpetuate fuel importation for personal profit, despite the refinery’s capacity to meet the country’s petroleum needs.
Adeboye highlighted the longstanding failure of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, which he said consumed billions of Naira without producing results. “Are we under a curse?” he asked. “We have four refineries, poured all kinds of money into them, yet none of them works. Then God raised someone to build a refinery that works—not my relative, not from my village, not even a Christian, but a Nigerian who said, ‘Why should my people suffer?’ Now that he is refining petrol, some people want to stop him so they can continue importing fuel.”
The Dangote Refinery, located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is seen as a game-changer capable of eliminating Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel. However, Adeboye alleged that oil marketers, in collaboration with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other vested interests, are obstructing its operations. He noted that these groups are restricting access to crude oil, forcing the refinery to source crude from international markets, including the United States.
The clergyman also decried the damaging effects of the now-removed fuel subsidy, which he said drained Nigeria’s resources and fueled corruption. He praised the subsidy removal announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023, calling it a bold step towards economic recovery. However, Adeboye warned that marketers benefiting from the subsidy system are fighting to maintain their grip on fuel imports at the expense of Nigerians.
“While these marketers have amassed wealth beyond measure, it is the masses who bear the brunt of their actions,” Adeboye said. He lamented the rising cost of essential goods and services, which has plunged many Nigerians into hardship.
The pastor’s remarks come amid calls from the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) for the government to protect local refineries from unfair competition. CORAN urged authorities to enforce provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to safeguard Nigeria’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
Despite its challenges, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery remains a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s energy sector, with the potential to restore stability to the fuel supply chain and bolster the economy. Adeboye called on Nigerians to pray for the refinery’s success, urging divine intervention to overcome the forces working against it and achieve total restoration for the nation.
Make the refinery sha favour we Nigerians