Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, recently shared a troubling revelation during his address at the November 2024 Special Holy Ghost Service in Abuja. The pastor disclosed that there is an alleged scheme involving an oil cabal in Nigeria, in collaboration with international oil companies, to sabotage the operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to Adeboye, these oil marketers are working to disrupt the refinery’s ability to operate effectively, causing undue hardship for Nigerians. He emphasized the importance of prayer to seek divine intervention against these forces, which seem determined to prevent the refinery from being successful. This revelation comes after several previous sabotage attempts targeting Nigeria’s state-owned refineries, which have struggled for years despite heavy investments.
Adeboye took time to reflect on Nigeria’s long-standing challenges with its public refineries, which have cost the country billions of Naira but failed to function properly. He asked a poignant question, “Are we under a curse?” The pastor pointed out that Nigeria has four refineries, but none have been able to meet the country’s fuel demands, leading to a continued reliance on fuel imports.
Despite Nigeria’s status as a major oil-producing nation, the country has been unable to refine enough of its own crude oil to meet domestic needs. This has forced the nation to import refined fuel, placing a heavy financial burden on the economy and citizens. Adeboye expressed frustration over this issue, especially given the large amounts of money that have been poured into revamping the public refineries over the years, all to no avail.
In the midst of this bleak situation, the pastor highlighted the remarkable success of Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote’s refinery. Adeboye credited God for inspiring Dangote to take the bold step of building a functional refinery, something Nigeria had desperately needed for years. He pointed out that Dangote, despite not being related to him or sharing the same faith, saw the suffering of Nigerians and decided to take action by investing in a refinery that works.
Dangote’s refinery represents a major step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to end its dependence on imported fuel. Unlike the failed attempts to repair public refineries, Dangote’s refinery has started refining petrol, offering hope for a more self-sufficient future. However, this success has made it a target for those who want to maintain the status quo of fuel imports. Adeboye warned that certain powerful figures are trying to stop Dangote’s refinery from selling petrol, preferring the continued importation of fuel to keep their own businesses thriving.
In a positive development, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reached an agreement with Dangote Refinery to purchase petrol directly from the facility. This partnership is a significant step toward ensuring that Dangote’s products reach Nigerians at a fair price. However, despite this agreement, fuel prices remain a concern. Many Nigerians are still paying exorbitant prices for petrol, with some stations charging as high as N1060 and N1200 per litre.
This price disparity continues to burden ordinary citizens, and Adeboye urged Nigerians to continue praying for a fair and just system where the country’s oil wealth is used to benefit the people rather than a few powerful individuals
