President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has again sounded the alarm over what he described as deep-rooted and coordinated sabotage within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, warning that criminal networks in the sector are even more powerful than drug cartels.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote said sustained acts of vandalism and theft have caused massive financial losses and forced the refinery to operate under heavy security.
He disclosed that stolen items at the facility are valued at about $82 million, noting that saboteurs deliberately damage equipment to trigger insurance claims and drive up operating costs.
He also cited incidents in which critical components were removed from major equipment while in operation, as well as widespread destruction of pipelines and depots across the country, describing the scale of the damage as clear evidence of deliberate sabotage.
Dangote also linked the challenges facing local refining to regulatory failures and alleged corruption in the downstream petroleum sector, calling for greater transparency and accountability.
He recalled that both local and international interests benefiting from fuel importation have repeatedly attempted to undermine his refinery project, a claim he first raised in June 2024.
According to him, powerful international traders and local marketers are working together to frustrate domestic refining efforts, a concern he reiterated in September 2025 when he warned that coordinated actions were being taken to suffocate refineries in Nigeria.
Dangote stressed that addressing sabotage and regulatory lapses is critical to protecting national assets and achieving energy self-sufficiency.
