A Nigerian politician, businessman and socialite, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has hailed Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, on the timely completion and inauguration of his petrochemical refinery at Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos.

Onaiwu, who is a former director general of the Nigerian Governors Forum, while speaking on Monday, said he was particularly thrilled at the show of patriotism exhibited by the Kano-born business mogul in building the refinery.

His words: “What Dangote exhibited on Monday is the real solution to Nigeria’s problem. I am not talking about the refinery, mind you. I was super impressed by the combination of the workforce that brought it to being.

“Dangote didn’t go to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere to employ the hands that put this gigantic complex to being. He did not look at religion or ethnicity. He went for capacity and competence.

“Imagine the lady that drove the entire process is Igbo. The lady that oversaw the risks, one of the most important aspects of creating this giant project, is Yoruba.

“Nigerian politicians should go to Aliko to learn. What we need to move forward is to harness our capacity and competence, devoid of ethnicity and religion. Dangote is sending a message to the politicians, he is telling them that we don’t need all the nepotism. We need to harness our best hands to build this country to the standard we want.”

The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex is set up to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and transform crude oil into different petroleum products, such as diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and kerosene.

The refinery was inaugurated on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari and is expected to commence production later in July.