The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said 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.
MAN Director General (DG), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call, following the recent dispute between Dangote Refinery management and the authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
He cautioned the Nigerian Government from demarketing local industries and called for caution from major actors- government agencies, and regulators in the oil and gas sector of the economy regarding the Federal Government-Dangote Refinery saga.
The MAN DG said government agencies that provide regulatory oversight functions should promote an enabling business environment for local investments to thrive.
He insisted that the allegations of poor quality, and monopolistic tendencies levelled against Dangote Industry by NMDPRA were unsubstantiated, and warned that no regulatory agency should cast a shadow over a homegrown investment like the Dangote Refinery.
The MAN boss stated that a business mogul like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who has investments in various sectors of the economy and across the Continent of Africa, should not be pulled down but should be accorded all needed support to grow and invest in more sectors to positively impact the well-being of the people.