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A recent report falsely alleging that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) imported 200 million liters of petrol in February 2025 has been linked to the Dangote Group. Investigations reveal that the misleading report was pitched by Victor Ogunyinka, Digital Media Manager at Dangote Group, alongside Oluwakemi Victor, using Ogunyinka’s official Dangote Group email account.
According to sources, the duo blind-sent the fabricated report to multiple media houses on February 18, 2025, in an apparent attempt to discredit the leadership of NNPCL and cast doubts over the recent resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
Industry experts suggest that the motive behind this alleged misinformation is tied to the Dangote Group’s perceived attempt to dominate Nigeria’s oil sector. With the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries now operating at 80% and 60% capacity, respectively, Dangote Group is reportedly wary of the competition this poses to its oil business.
Similar to its moves in the cement industry, Dangote Group is said to be strategically positioning itself to monopolize the petroleum sector. The revival of state-owned refineries, however, threatens this ambition, leading to what some analysts describe as a sustained smear campaign against the NNPCL leadership.
Since the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries resumed operations, the Dangote Group has allegedly intensified efforts to undermine NNPCL, employing various tactics, including media narratives designed to cast the corporation in a negative light.