The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Nigerians to pray for divine intervention against attempts by influential oil marketers to hinder operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, after years of undermining Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries.
During the November 2024 Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service themed ‘Total Restoration,’ Adeboye called for nationwide prayers, expressing concern over the actions of certain groups working to obstruct the Dangote Refinery—the country’s sole functioning refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Although he did not directly name the refinery, his comments highlighted ongoing conflicts with marketers who prefer to maintain their lucrative fuel import businesses.
Adeboye reminded the congregation that Nigeria’s previous attempts to revive its state refineries had drained billions of Naira without success.
He credited God with raising Aliko Dangote to establish a privately-owned refinery that now produces fuel locally, questioning why fuel imports persist despite Nigeria’s oil wealth. “Are we under a curse?” he asked.
“We have four refineries and poured all kinds of money into them, yet none are working. But here is a Nigerian, not even a Christian, who says, ‘Why should my people suffer when I have the means to build a refinery that can work?’ Now he’s refining petrol, but some people want to stop him so they can keep importing.”
Adeboye also criticized the fuel subsidy regime, describing it as a drain on national resources that has increased Nigeria’s debt and fueled corruption.
He acknowledged that most Nigerians supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to end the subsidy in 2023, but oil marketers who benefited from it were displeased.
The pastor claimed these marketers had formed alliances with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other powerful interests to restrict the Dangote Refinery’s access to local crude oil, forcing the refinery to import crude from countries like the United States. He called for prayer for Nigeria’s total restoration, as the rising cost of essentials has hit the masses hardest.
Despite the Dangote Refinery’s potential to meet Nigeria’s fuel needs and even export excess, marketers continue to pressure the government to permit fuel imports, exacerbating inflation and further weakening the Naira. Recently, the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) urged the government to protect local refineries from unfair competition by importers, as outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
