Civil society faults Dangote’s claims against NMDPRA, calls for due process

The League of Civil Society Groups has criticised recent public comments by President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, calling for a probe of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, describing the move as unnecessary and contrary to due process.

Speaking in Abuja, Ambassador Mohammed Bassah. National Secretary, League of Civil Society Groups, said while the right to seek accountability is fundamental, raising allegations in the public space without first approaching the appropriate statutory authorities was “rather low” and potentially damaging to institutional stability.

Bassah noted that if Dangote or any corporate entity had genuine concerns regarding regulatory conduct, the proper channels were available, including formal petitions to oversight bodies such as the National Assembly, the Code of Conduct Bureau, or other relevant anti-corruption agencies.

“Civil society believes in accountability, but accountability must follow due process. If there are issues, they should be presented to the appropriate authorities with evidence, not turned into public accusations that undermine confidence in national institutions,” Bassah said.

The League argued that the NMDPRA, established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), has a clear mandate to regulate Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors in a transparent and competitive manner, including issuing import licences when domestic supply is insufficient to meet national demand.

According to Bassah, importation of petroleum products remains a legal and necessary stop-gap measure to prevent shortages, noting that no single refinery, including the Dangote Refinery, has yet met Nigeria’s full daily fuel consumption requirements.

The civil society group also questioned public price predictions attributed to Dangote, including claims that petrol prices could drop below ₦740 per litre, describing such projections as speculative and dependent on multiple variables such as foreign exchange rates, crude oil prices, supply volumes, and distribution costs.

Bassah further cautioned against what he described as “personal narratives and insinuations” being introduced into public discourse, stressing that allegations touching on personal conduct must be backed by evidence and handled by competent authorities, not tried in the media.

“Civil society stands for transparency, not rumor. Public discourse must be guided by facts and law, not sensationalism,” he added.

The League urged industry players, regulators, and stakeholders to engage constructively, warning that public confrontations between major investors and regulators could unsettle the sector and discourage investment at a time when Nigeria is still stabilising its post-subsidy petroleum market.

It reaffirmed its support for institutional dialogue and evidence-based engagement, calling on all parties to prioritise national interest over corporate or personal disagreements.