Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja over the weekend and commended him for implementing vital reforms in the Nigerian oil industry.
He specifically applauded the President’s decision to appoint a “capable leadership team” to helm the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
During the visit, Dangote spotlighted the recent appointments of Bashir Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer and Ahmadu Kida as Non-Executive Chairman of NNPCL.
In a statement issued by his media office, Dangote said he visited the President to commend him for assembling a professional and effective team to steer the country’s top oil firm, noting that the new leadership possesses the technical expertise and executive experience needed to drive meaningful transformation.
According to him, the management duo under Ojulari and Kida mirrors Tinubu’s commitment to deepening reforms and fostering innovation across the nation’s energy infrastructure.
“We are confident that this team will address systemic challenges, align with the President’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, and reposition NNPC Limited for operational excellence and long-term sustainability,” Dangote was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in response to recent media inquiries about his remarks regarding the struggle to sustain his $20 billion refinery, Dangote clarified that his concerns were not directed at the new NNPCL leadership. He described them as supportive and instrumental in helping his business meet critical requirements.
He explained that the “cabals” he previously referred to were entrenched players in the oil trading and marketing sector, who he claimed were deliberately obstructing the President’s economic renewal efforts.
Dangote further praised the structural adjustments and operational reforms underway at NNPCL, stating that they signify a new era of openness and productivity in the organisation.
“The calibre of individuals at the helm, and their deliberate, reform-driven agenda, demonstrate a commitment to fostering a culture of performance and professionalism,” he added.
He closed with an optimistic note, expressing strong belief that the fresh leadership at NNPCL would elevate Nigeria’s energy sector and reaffirmed the Dangote Group’s unwavering support for Tinubu’s vision of a robust, self-sustaining economy.