The House of Representatives’ decision calling on the federal government to suspend the managing director of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr Farouk Ahmed , pending the conclusion of an investigation of allegations against the unguarded utterances of the CEO of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, is highly ridiculous and a disservice to Nigerians.
As representatives of the people, the House shouldn’t be making such decisions without a fair hearing. Even a court of law doesn’t pass judgment on matters before it without giving a fair hearing to the parties involved.
But what was the unguarded utterances of the CEO? I have followed the statements made by Mr Ahmed to see where he made an unguarded utterance rather than bringing clarification into the matter. They are on the Internet for people to see and on YouTube to watch.
Dangote was angry with Mr Farouk for speaking the exact truth on the matter. It’s obvious that the House is doing the bidding of Dangote. How would you call for the suspension of the NMDPRA CEO barely a week after the House leadership visited the Dangote refinery?
The media was awash with stories in defence of Dangote pointing an accusing finger at the government diverting the attention of Nigerians from the main issue and the reality. This is not against Dangote or because he is a northerner but because of due process.
The NMDPRA wants Dangote to abide by the laid down processes but the media and some paid journalists are going somewhere not discussing the real issue.
In a media interview with the CEO of NMDPRA about the matter that I watched, Engineer Farouk Ahmed, is following the laid down procedure which Dangote found strange. This is the first time the government is asking Dangote to do the right thing in his business, follow the procedure and that’s all. This I realised is the fault of Mr. Ahmed in the eyes of Aliko Dangote.
Let me briefly quote the interview for my readers to see whether they can cite the unguarded utterance the House is referring to in its call for Ahmed’s suspension.
Read It Below:
“On the 2nd of October 2003, Obasanjo as the President said that the NNPC should be selling crude at the official selling price for NNPC refineries.
That was the beginning of how operating on a commercial basis as far as crude oil is concerned. If the government can do this to NNPC refinery back then, I don’t think NNPC can give a discount to anyone, so we have to be fair as regulators.
We regulate NNPC just like we regulate Dangote, just like LNG and other refineries. NNPC is now commercial, we regulate NNPC whether it is Midstream or Downstream. NUPRC regulate NNPC upstream just like they regulate Shell, Exxon Mobil and others.
So, there is no difference. As a regulator, we have to give a level playing field to ensure competition and there is a choice. We cannot concentrate say, you must go to NNPC for anything you want. There are choices, you can go anywhere.
If NNPC refineries are running today, nobody is saying you must go to NNPC and buy because its availability is there. People can make their own choices.
It depends on a commercial advantage or pricing just like we have telecommunications. You cannot tell me, I must go to Glo to buy my sim card because I have a choice, I can go to MTN, or I can go to 9Mobile because I’m looking for a choice to make and service.
If anyone wants to come and invest in Nigeria in any sector, we are here to support but we cannot allow anyone to take advantage of the consumer. Basically, that is what it is”.
I don’t see anything wrong with Farouk’s statement that warrants the call for his suspension, it’s clear that the House is siding with Dangote, not the Nigerian interest.
I will not wonder, as I stated at the beginning of this article, that the House and its leadership led by the speaker were at the Dangote refinery just last week. I will not be surprised to see the call for the CEO’s suspension.
Nigerians should shine their eyes!
–Adnan is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja
