By Adedapo Adesanya
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has waded into the recent spate of controversy surrounding Africa’s richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote, and several regulators in the Nigerian energy landscape, warning the federal government not to demarket local industries and investments.
The Director General of MAN, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said government agencies that provide regulatory oversight functions should promote an enabling business environment for local investments to thrive and called for caution from major actors, government agencies, and regulators in the oil and gas sector of the economy.
He said no regulatory agency should cast a shadow over a homegrown investment like the Dangote Refinery.
According to him, the allegations of poor quality, and monopolistic tendencies levelled against Dangote Refinery by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were unsubstantiated.
Mr Ajayi-Kadir stressed that local investors in Nigeria, particularly the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) play a vital role in driving economic growth, paying taxes, creating jobs and fostering development within the country.
“As such, these investors must be protected and given the necessary support to thrive in this business environment,” he said.
He said a businessman with status like that of Mr Dangote, with investments in diverse sectors of the economy and across the Continent of Africa, should be accorded all needed support to grow and invest in more sectors and positively impact the well-being of the people.
Mr Dangote with business interests in cement, food, and urea, recently halted plans to move into the steel industry, claiming he has been accused of monopolistic behaviour.
MAN joins the likes of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate at the 2023 general elections and Mr Femi Otedola, a fellow billionaire and businessman, to defend Mr Dangote in the last few days.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Business Post Contributor