Buhari, Emefiele, not Tinubu, deserve credit for Dangote refinery – Rufai Oseni
Rufai Oseni Credits Previous Administration for Dangote Refinery Success
Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni stated on Monday that former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele should be credited for the successful establishment of the Dangote Refinery, rather than the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Oseni’s comments came in response to remarks made by Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program. Adedeji highlighted the Tinubu administration’s economic achievements, including increased government revenue and the refinery’s contribution to local fuel supply.
In contrast, Oseni emphasized that the refinery’s development was primarily facilitated by policies and economic conditions from the Buhari era, particularly pointing to the stability of the naira achieved during Emefiele’s tenure.
“When they try to say Dangote Refinery is a product of this administration? It’s not a product of this administration,” Oseni remarked. He added that the Buhari administration’s management of the naira created the environment necessary for the refinery’s construction.
Oseni further indicated that the current government has not fulfilled all its crude oil supply commitments to the Dangote Refinery. “Do you know that Dangote still has to go and buy Nigerian crude on the international market and bring it back?” he asked.
While acknowledging some economic advancements under the Tinubu administration, Oseni stressed the need for the government to assess the broader impact of its policies on Nigerian citizens and businesses. He stated, “Yes, it got some wins… But the debilitating effect of what was done on the economy is something we’ve not recovered from.”
He pointed to substantial foreign exchange challenges faced by the corporate sector and raised concerns about the impact on individuals, questioning, “Can they bring out that cost?”
