Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has said cabals in Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors will continue to frustrate the $20 billion Dangote Refinery because those “selling refined products for Nigeria” feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunities.

He disclosed this in a recent documentary by Financial Times titled “Nigeria’s struggle to break the ‘oil curse.

He made the comment amid the continued crisis between Dangote Refinery and Regulatory authorities in the country

Obasanjo said if the Refinery goes well, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians will be encouraged to invest in the country.

He noted that those “selling refined products for Nigeria” feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunities.

“Aliko’s investment in a refinery, if it goes well, should encourage both Nigerians and non-Nigerians to invest in Nigeria.

“If those who are selling or supplying refined products for Nigeria feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunity, they will also make every effort to get him frustrated,” Obasanjo stated.

The former president then touched on the reason Nigeria’s four refineries have remained moribund despite huge investments and attempts at revamping them.

He recalled how he persuaded Shell to run the country’s refineries but the International Oil Company refused, saying there was too much corruption in the sector.

“When I was president, I invited shell to come and take equity and run our refineries for us. They refused and said our refineries were not well maintained. We brought amateurs instead of professionals. Then there was too much corruption with the way our refineries were maintained. They didn’t want to get involved in such a mess,’ he said