Professor Ken Ife, an economist and spokesperson for Dangote Group, has revealed that CEO Aliko Dangote plan to reduce fuel prices by removing logistical inefficiencies created by trade unions and other intermediaries has led to the crisis between Dangote refinery and the unions.
Speaking during an interview with Daily Trust, Professor Ife criticized stakeholders who he says are resisting changes that would benefit ordinary Nigerians. “They are the ones that can’t let go. They think that the whole country will continue to be on their knees just for them to get by. You have 2,000 trucks, and you are making so much noise. So, what happens? You are contending with somebody that brought 10,000 trucks, and you have just 2000 trucks,” he said.
The spokesman questioned why existing operators oppose Dangote’s larger investment in logistics infrastructure. “You’re not talking about getting resources to upgrade your 2,000. He hasn’t stopped you from coming to the gantry. But you are screaming. You don’t want his 10,000. What is it? What have you invested in the economy?” Professor Ife asked.
He emphasized Dangote’s massive investment in transportation infrastructure specifically to lower fuel costs. “Somebody is investing ₦1.7 trillion, not directly in his refining but to actually move his product and then to bring down the price of fuel,” the spokesperson stated.
Professor Ife broke down the fuel pricing structure to illustrate where profits accumulate along the supply chain. “The people who actually sell the petrol don’t actually get more than ₦40-₦50. But if you look at the ₦820 they spend at the gantry to collect the fuel, see who is getting what. The exploration gets so much. The driller gets so much. The refiner gets so much,” he explained.
He highlighted what he described as excessive markups by middlemen. “By the time it arrives at the pump, somebody’s collecting ₦1,100 with no investment? So, the man that actually puts the petrol in your car doesn’t get more than ₦50 per liter. But look at the people that stack up the benefit,” Professor Ife said.
The spokesman indicated Dangote’s ultimate objective in the ongoing disputes. “So, this is the point: he wants to get them out of the way so that the benefit will reach 230 million Nigerians and 42 million workers,” he declared.Continue, Full, Reading>>>>
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