Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged Nigerians to seek divine intervention against powerful figures allegedly working to undermine private refinery projects in the country. During RCCG’s annual Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service, themed Total Restoration, Adeboye voiced concerns over efforts by influential cabals in the oil and gas sector determined to protect the lucrative fuel importation business at the expense of local refinery success.
While Adeboye did not directly mention the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, his remarks highlighted the obstacles private refinery initiatives face, especially from oil marketers keen on preserving profits from fuel imports. He expressed frustration over the vast sums invested into Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries, which continue to underperform, saying, “Before our president came in, it was common knowledge that our financial struggles were tied to the massive funds spent on petrol importation. Why import petrol when we have abundant crude oil here?”
Adeboye noted that when the President reduced the costly importation of petrol, the naira initially showed signs of improvement. However, opposition from those profiting from imports led to market disruptions, impacting the currency’s stability. “Some were unhappy because they were losing out on the imports. I called on my followers to pray, and thank God others joined. Without divine intervention, the naira could have fallen even further,” he added.
The pastor clarified that his appeal is purely for Nigeria’s progress and not politically motivated. He pointed out that a prominent private refinery owner—widely understood to be Dangote—faced challenges from domestic suppliers refusing to provide crude locally, forcing him to source it from the United States. When local supply access was granted, further obstacles arose as attempts were made to control his refinery’s pricing.
Adeboye also highlighted the legal pressures facing this private refinery, with external entities pushing to enforce pricing controls to maintain the fuel importation chain’s profitability. “Our four government-owned refineries remain non-functional despite heavy investments, but now that we have one operational private refinery, roadblocks continue. Are we cursed?” he questioned, urging Nigerians to pray against these impediments to protect the nation’s economic stability.
Pastor Adeboye emphasized that continued reliance on fuel importation harms Nigeria’s economy, increasing fuel costs and worsening living conditions for citizens. He called on Nigerians to unite in prayer to help Nigeria achieve energy independence through successful local refineries, believing that with divine support, the nation can overcome these challenges and pave the way for economic progress and stability.
