Financial analysts have expressed divergent views over the proposed plan by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to acquire a 20 per cent equity stake in Dangote refinery.

They made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

The NNPC had expressed interest in purchasing a 20 per cent minority equity stake in the 650,000bpd Dangote refinery.

The NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals, Mustapha Yakubu, made the announcement at the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair.

Mr Yakubu said discussions were already going on with the Dangote Group for the acquisition of the stake which would further ensure undisrupted product supply to Nigerians.

A former executive secretary, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Uju Ogubunka, said the initiative was novel but unnecessary.

“The planned equity is unnecessary because the NNPC has not adequately managed its own assets too well.

“The four refineries under its supervision have not refined at an optimal capacity over a decade,” Mr Ogubunka said.

He noted that most successful acquisitions were perfected by a private entity and not state concern.

However, a former director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Titus Okurounmu, lauded the proposed equity stake acquisition by the NNPC in the Dangote refinery.

Mr Okurounmu said the proposal if well implemented and managed could boost the government’s revenue.

He described the move as strategic and called on the NNPC to be more transparent in its operations.

“The management of the NNPC must be continuously improved upon in order to get the support of Nigerians over its decisions.

“As oftentimes, the state-owned oil corporation is seen as managed poorly due to its antecedents,” he said.