Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, says his company has the capacity to meet the country’s local demand and urged marketers to stop importing the product.

Mr Dangote said this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu to review the sale of crude in naira to local refiners at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

He said the refinery had the capacity to produce over 30 million litres of crude oil daily, adding, “At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed, which I believe may be about 30.32 million litres per day.

“So, it is not really an issue because, as we speak today, we have 500 million litres in our tanks. Even if there’s no production from any refinery or imports. This will take the country more than 12 days.

“I assured Mr President we would be able to supply the market minimum of 30 million litres per day, and we’ll be ramping up as we go on. So, we’re ready. We’re more than ready,” said Mr Dangote.

Regarding the scarcity of petrol, he said he was not responsible for making the product available at petrol stations, as he was a producer and not a retailer.

“If I’m in the business of retail, then you hold me responsible. But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick; if they don’t come forward and pick, what do you want me to do?

“So, I expect NNPC and the marketers to stop importing; they should come and pick because we have what they need. And you know, as they remove, I will be pumping,” said Mr Dangote.

(NAN)