Devakumarg Edwin News Today

Whatever the world may be saying about fossil fuels, carbon footprints and spooky markets, the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Nigerians cannot wait for the relief that the commencement of Dangote Refinery promises.

Blue Star had paid about $670million for the plants in the twilight of the Obasanjo administration, and gone away thinking it was a done deal. It wasn’t. Even

At issue was the decision of the government of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007 to reverse the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries (two of Nigeria’s moribund refineries) to Blue Star, the Dangote-led consortium. 

It started like a grudge match. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, was dealt a bad hand in a failed transaction. Later, he vowed revenge. Not in a pound of flesh, but by venturing to make his own success where he had been ambushed.    At issue was the decision of the government of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007 to reverse the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries (two of Nigeria’s moribund refineries) to Blue Star, the Dangote-led consortium.   

Dangote Group said it was not in denial of the dilemma it faces from green campaigners, as it goes into business.

Large industrial projects like Dangote Refinery, which covers 2,635 hectares, are infamous for environmental challenges.