BAT: Why Don’t You Give Crude Oil To Dangote And It’ll Refine And Give Directly To Nigerians—Okonkwo

A report that was published on the official X account of Channels TV on Monday, October 12, 2026, African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has questioned the federal government’s approach to reducing petrol costs, proposing that crude oil should be supplied directly to Dangote Refinery to ease the burden on Nigerian consumers.

His position was highlighted following the announcement of a 30-day fuel discount initiative by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The federal government’s programme involves petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and is intended to provide temporary relief to consumers facing high fuel expenses.

However, Okonkwo believes that a different approach to crude oil supply could help address some of the factors contributing to the high cost of petroleum products. Rather than concentrating on a short-term discount, the ADC chieftain urged the government to consider supplying crude oil directly to Dangote Refinery for processing and subsequent distribution to Nigerians.

Explaining his position, Okonkwo said: “Why do you not just give the crude directly to Dangote and Dangote will refine it and give it directly to Nigerians”.

The politician argued that shipping crude oil adds to the expenses associated with petrol production and distribution. He suggested that reviewing the existing supply arrangements could help reduce some of these costs and potentially improve the affordability of refined petroleum products.

Fuel costs remain a major concern for households, transport operators and businesses, particularly because changes in petrol prices can affect transportation fares and the cost of moving goods across the country.

Although the government’s 30-day discount policy offers temporary assistance, Okonkwo’s proposal raises questions about longer-term measures that could improve fuel affordability. Whether direct crude oil supplies would significantly lower petrol prices would depend on production costs, transportation expenses, distribution arrangements and other market factors.