“Dangote Acting as Regulator in Oil and Gas Market,” Says Ex-UN Rapporteur Ezeilo

In a pointed critique, Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, has raised concerns over the influence wielded by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, in Nigeria’s oil and gas market. Ezeilo accused Dangote of operating as a de facto regulator in the industry—a role, she suggests, that may hinder fair competition and further strain Nigerian consumers.

Ezeilo expressed her concerns on her X (formerly Twitter) account, alleging that Dangote’s efforts could ultimately amount to establishing a monopoly. According to Ezeilo, the billionaire’s stance on product quality—specifically allegations that lower-cost petroleum products are of substandard quality—should not serve as a pretext for edging out competitors from the market.

“I don’t understand why Africa’s richest man is acting as a regulator in the oil and gas market,” Ezeilo remarked. “This seems like an attempt to establish a monopoly, which could worsen Nigerians’ exploitation.”

The Dangote Refinery, a significant player in the region’s oil production landscape, previously argued that more affordable petrol could imply a decline in product standards. Ezeilo, however, contended that addressing such concerns should not mean stifling other independent marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The former Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria called for government intervention to support and license other operators, promoting competition as a way to drive down fuel prices and ease economic burdens on citizens. “Nigerians are suffering from economic hardship and need affordable fuel, not excuses about costs compared to Saudi Arabia,” she said.

Ezeilo encouraged the government to approve more licenses for modular refineries, akin to the support Dangote Refinery has received. She emphasized that increased competition could reduce fuel prices, curb inflation, and alleviate the ongoing food crisis.