SAN Femi Falana, a senior advocate in Nigeria, has contested Dangote’s allegations of monopoly. Adding that the government unintentionally creates a monopoly if it ignores its own refineries and permits a private entity to build one. He questioned the role of the government, saying that it ought to be actively working to stop monopolistic behaviors in Nigerian business. With $1.5 billion set aside, he encouraged the government to accelerate the restoration of the refineries in Warri and Kaduna. He maintained that the government has to give priority to opening these refineries as soon as possible in order to promote competition, particularly with the privately held Dangote refinery, rather than postponing operating dates.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
He said in an interview with Channels TV, ”It’s so embarrassing that we are telling the whole world that the government of Nigeria is so incapable to manage it affairs and that one person is monopolizing trade in our country. What is the purpose of the government? It is to checkmate any monopolistic control of any business in Nigeria. But what do you call a monopoly?
If you have abandoned your own refineries, then allow somebody else to have his own refinery. You can say that is a monopoly but there is nothing you can do about it. I thought what the government should be doing now having allocated 1.5 billion dollars for the revitalization of the Warri and Kaduna refinery. The government should stop postponing the days of commencement of business in these refineries. The government should be in a hurry to get our refineries to work and compete with Dangote’s refinery.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
