In a surprising turn of events, Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest man, has expressed his willingness to sell his multibillion-dollar oil refinery to the state-owned energy company, NNPC Limited.

This announcement comes as a dispute with one of the key equity partners in the plant intensifies, amidst a long-standing bitter row with regulatory authorities in Nigeria.

According to Premium Times, Dangote stated in an exclusive interview, "Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labeled me a monopolist. That's an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it's OK. If they buy me out, at least, their so-called monopolist would be out of the way." This statement suggests that Dangote is open to relinquishing ownership of the refinery, which has been a subject of controversy, to the NNPC.

The refinery, which has the potential to resolve Nigeria's fuel crisis, has been a point of contention. Dangote believes that some individuals are uncomfortable with his involvement in the project, hence the allegations of monopoly. By offering to sell the refinery, Dangote is willing to step aside and allow the NNPC to take control, provided they can run it efficiently.

This development raises questions about the future of the refinery and the implications of NNPC's potential ownership. Will the state-owned company be able to manage the refinery effectively, and what does this mean for Nigeria's energy sector? Only time will tell.