Former NBA President YC Maikyau, SAN Thanks President Tinubu For Enabling Environment At Dangote Refinery
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, OON, has expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for creating a conducive environment that facilitated the operations of the Dangote Refinery. Maikyau’s appreciation comes in the wake of a recent visit to the refinery, where he led a high-profile NBA delegation to inspect the facility as part of his activities preceding the 2024 NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).
The visit, which highlighted the critical role of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria’s economic landscape, saw Maikyau and his team being warmly received personally by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, and senior officials of the company. The NBA delegation, which included key figures such as the former National Welfare Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Obasi-Ofem; former Assistant Publicity Secretary, Charles Ajiboye, Esq.; the Chairman of the Section on Business Law, Dr. Adeoye Adefulu; the Chairman of the Section on Legal Practice, Mrs. Boma Alabi, SAN, OON; the Chairman of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Sir Steve Adehi, SAN; the Chairman of the NBA Women Forum, Mrs. Chinyere Okorocha; former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN; and the Chairmen of the NBA Ikeja Branch, NBA Ikorodu Branch, NBA Surulere Branch, NBA Eti-Osa Branch, NBA Epe Branch, along with the leadership of the NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee, embarked on a comprehensive tour of the expansive facility.
During the tour, which lasted over five hours, Maikyau lauded Dangote’s monumental investment, describing it as a patriotic endeavour that reflects a deep commitment to Nigeria’s economic independence. He went on to label Alhaji Dangote as an “Economic Freedom Fighter,” emphasising the importance of such nationalistic investments for the country’s industrial growth.
In his remarks, Maikyau expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for heeding his call, along with those of other well-meaning Nigerians, for the government to support local refining of Nigeria’s crude oil. He emphasized that encouraging local refining is crucial for the nation’s economic independence and development.
“It makes no sense that we farm and grow beans in Nigeria, only to export the beans and import moi moi and akara for our consumption. It’s a terrible aberration that must not be allowed to continue,” Maikyau stated, using a vivid analogy to highlight the absurdity of exporting crude oil only to re-import refined products.
Maikyau called on the government to continue providing an enabling environment for such nationalistic investments. “All efforts must be made to ensure that projects like this, which aim to improve the lives of Nigerians, receive the necessary encouragement and support from the government,” he added.
The NBA’s visit also served to strengthen the relationship between the legal profession and the industrial sector, highlighting the potential for collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s economic and legal frameworks. The delegation took the opportunity to invite Alhaji Dangote to participate in the Economy Session of the 2024 Annual General Conference, underscoring the importance of industry insights in shaping the nation’s economic policies.
The visit concluded with an interactive session where discussions centred on potential collaborations aimed at fostering national development and enhancing the synergy between the legal and industrial sectors in Nigeria.
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