By Milcah Tanimu
Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote Group, has disclosed that both local and international criminal organizations, which he referred to as “mafia,” made repeated efforts to sabotage his $19 billion refinery project located in Lagos.
Speaking at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Dangote compared the oil cartels to a mafia stronger than the drug mafia, determined to maintain their dominance in the industry.
“Well, I knew that there would be a fight. But I didn’t know that the mafia in oil, they are stronger than the mafia in drugs. I can tell you that. Yes, it’s a fact,” he stated.
Dangote, describing himself as a fighter, mentioned that they “tried all sorts” to stop him.
“But I’m a person that has been fighting all my life. You know, so I think it’s part of my life to fight,” he expressed.
During the COVID-19 period, some international banks attempted to push Dangote Group into defaulting on their loans to halt the project, but Dangote thanked banks like Afreximbank for preventing this from happening.
Dangote also disclosed that he has already repaid $2.4 billion of the $5.5 billion borrowed for the Lagos-based refinery.
Additionally, Dangote unveiled plans to diversify into the steel sector, aiming to utilize solely Nigerian-produced steel and achieve self-sufficiency.
The Dangote Refinery recently rescheduled the launch of its petrol sales to July 10-15, postponing its initial June target due to “minor” logistica
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