London NGO Accused of Sabotaging Nigeria’s $20 Billion Dangote Refinery

Prominent Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin has accused the London-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Dialogue Earth of attempting to undermine the project through a smear campaign. 

According to Hundeyin, Dialogue Earth, previously known as China Dialogue Trust, offered him a bribe of 800,000 Naira to publish a negative review of the refinery. The NGO purportedly sought to use environmental and climate change concerns as the basis for the critique.

Dialogue Earth is headed by Oxford professor Sam Geall and is reportedly funded by several major American organizations, including the Ford Foundation and ClimateWorks. The latter has faced controversy in India for allegedly funding groups working against national interests.

Hundeyin revealed on his social media account that the NGO’s objective was to create a narrative that could pressure the Nigerian government to restrict or shut down the refinery, citing "energy transition commitments" and "environmental policies."

"The unstated but clearly implied thrust of the brief was to craft an argument for the Nigerian government to potentially halt the refinery based on its environmental impact," Hundeyin said. He claimed that the NGO’s effort was part of a broader scheme by Western interests to impede Africa’s progress and maintain its economic dependence.

The Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, is set to be one of the world’s largest single-train refineries, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It is expected to significantly impact Nigeria's economy and energy sector by reducing the need for imported fuel and improving local fuel quality control.

The refinery has garnered attention from international oil organizations, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In its June 2024 Oil Market Report, OPEC highlighted the refinery’s potential to disrupt Europe’s oil and gas markets and enhance Nigeria's economic position. The report projected that the refinery could put pressure on the Northwest Europe (NWE) gasoil sector due to its high production capacity.

Despite the promising outlook, Hundeyin’s accusations add a layer of complexity to the project, reflecting tensions between local advancements and external interests. The alleged attempt to sabotage the refinery underscores ongoing geopolitical struggles over Africa's resources and economic development.

In response to Hundeyin’s claims, Dialogue Earth has yet to issue a formal statement. Meanwhile, the controversy over the Dangote Refinery highlights broader concerns about the influence of international NGOs and their role in shaping the future of critical infrastructure projects in Africa.