Amaechi denies blocking Dangote Refinery in Rivers

By Omodele Adigun

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has strongly denied blocking Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, from siting the multibillion-dollar Dangote Refinery in Rivers State, stressing that the business mogul never made such a request.

Amaechi, through his associate Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said the allegation by former federal lawmaker, Hon Chidi Wihioka, was both false and misleading, adding that the refinery project was already underway in Lagos before Dangote’s visit to Port Harcourt.

Amaechi explained that Dangote only sought land for a proposed gas plant, not a refinery.

He said he granted approval for a site opposite the Onne Seaport, which was considered ideal for the project. According to him, Dangote never returned to commence development after being offered the land.

Wihioka had accused the former governor of frustrating Dangote’s plans to invest in Rivers due to alleged personal demands.

The claim stirred controversy among Rivers elders and stakeholders, who insisted the matter required clarification given the economic impact of the refinery project.

Chief Bob Wali, one of the state’s respected voices, said Amaechi needed to publicly address the issue, stressing that the refinery represented a missed economic opportunity.

The Dangote Refinery, now located in Lagos, has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and was inaugurated in 2023 as Nigeria’s largest private-sector investment, aimed at cutting reliance on imported petroleum products.