Aare Afe Babalola, a renowned elder statesman and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, has criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPC) monopoly on petrol sales from the Dangote refinery.
Babalola expressed dissatisfaction with the recent petroleum price hikes, urging the government to avoid policies that might turn Nigerians into beggars. “The government should not turn Nigerians into beggars through their policies and actions. There was no begging, no thieves in this country in those days,” he said, on Saturday, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, after receiving the ‘Outstanding Achiever of All Times Award‘ from Ekiti Kete Coalition USA.
He advocated for free trade, encouraging Aliko Dangote to sell petrol directly to Nigerians at his own rate. “Let all those who can afford to put up refineries do so and sell to people. The prices of fuel will come down. There should be no monopoly on NNPC dictating prices.”
Babalola emphasized the need for a change of mindset and government intervention to improve Nigerians’ quality of life. “There is no country as blessed as Nigeria. There is no reason why Nigeria must not succeed.”
Ekiti Kete Coalition USA Chairman, Joe Olugbamila, praised Babalola’s role in Ekiti State’s creation and development. The group renewed its call for the Ekiti State Government to establish ‘Afe Babalola Day’ to celebrate his contributions.
