Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the Dangote Group, has called for a ‘level playing field’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector after a recent court ruling that threatens to delay operations at his long-awaited Lagos refinery. According to reports by The Africa Report, citing Premium Times, the Federal High Court in Lagos ruled against the company’s request for an extension of the deadline to start operations. The court decision comes amidst a growing controversy over Dangote’s alleged non-compliance with environmental regulations and failure to meet contractual obligations. This setback could potentially delay the refinery’s commissioning, which was initially scheduled for 2023. The Lagos refinery, once operational, is expected to double Nigeria’s oil refining capacity and reduce its reliance on imported petroleum products. Dangote has previously expressed concerns over what he perceived as a lack of fair competition in the Nigerian oil industry, alleging that state-owned companies were given undue advantages. With this court ruling, it remains to be seen if the government will take steps to ensure a level playing field for all players in the sector.
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