The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commissioned the repaired government-owned Port Harcourt refinery. He reportedly issued marching orders for the repairs of the remaining three refineries owned by the federal government.
I am not a tribal bigot, but President Tinubu appears to be one—unapologetically so. This observation has been made by many people, including a TikTok user who detailed the president’s appointments, claiming they overwhelmingly favour his Yoruba kinsmen.
According to this individual, who also claimed not to be “a tribal bigot like President Tinubu,” the breakdown of key federal appointments in Tinubu’s administration reveals an alarming pattern of favouritism. For example, the President is Yoruba, as are the ministers of finance, education, trade and industry, petroleum, marine and blue economy, power, justice, communication, interior, and solid minerals. Additionally, critical heads of agencies such as the EFCC, CBN, FIRS, DSS, Customs, and Immigration are all Yoruba. Similar trends are observed in appointments to military, judiciary, and regulatory bodies, leading many to question the equity of Tinubu’s leadership.
My concern, however, lies with the timing of the federal government’s sudden commitment to repairing its long-neglected refineries, which have consumed untold billions of dollars in the name of failed repairs over the years. In contrast, Alhaji Aliko Dangote invested over $20 billion to construct a state-of-the-art, 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery. Despite this significant contribution, the government allegedly made several attempts to undermine Dangote’s efforts. These include claims of substandard products and other ploys, which independent tests later disproved.
When those attempts failed, the government seemingly shifted focus to repairing its refineries, starting with the Port Harcourt facility. While this development might appear commendable, one cannot help but wonder: would President Tinubu have prioritized these repairs if Dangote had not built his Lagos-based refinery? Or, would the president have acted differently if Dangote were Yoruba? The answers to these questions are troubling.
Furthermore, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, another Northern entrepreneur and founder of BUA Group, is building a 200,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Akwa Ibom State. Both Dangote and Rabiu have opted to base their ventures in Southern Nigeria, even though their largest customer base resides in the North. This raises additional concerns about regional balance and government support.
President Tinubu’s administration has also faced criticism for its handling of Northern interests. The frequent collapse of the National Grid disproportionately affects Northern states, exacerbating the region’s already dire economic challenges. Additionally, the cancellation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project, awarded under President Buhari’s administration to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, has been controversial. The road’s reduced budget and subsequent reassignment have fueled suspicions of bias, especially when juxtaposed with the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Highway project awarded to Hitech Construction, reportedly linked to Tinubu’s associates.
The Lagos-Calabar Highway project, spanning 700 kilometers, has attracted scrutiny for its high cost and alleged lack of due process. Critics argue that similar projects in countries like South Africa, Egypt, and India were executed at far lower costs. Concerns about transparency were further heightened when the Minister of Works, David Umahi, engaged Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to block the disclosure of project details.
Adding to these grievances is the controversial Tax Reform Bill currently before the National Assembly. If passed, the bill could disproportionately benefit Lagos and Ogun states, further marginalizing Northern Nigeria.
Ultimately, the timing of the federal government’s refinery repairs, coming after Dangote’s substantial investment, raises questions about fairness and intent. While repairing Nigeria’s refineries is desirable, it is difficult to overlook the context in which these efforts are being undertaken.
May God free Nigeria and its ordinary citizens from the suffocating grip of self-serving leaders.
Labaran wrote from Katsina.
