Why I Publicized the Bribe Offer to Write Against Dangote Refinery — Hundeyin

By Prisca Sam-Duru

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin recently made headlines on X when he revealed that he had resisted a lucrative offer to write a derogatory article about the Dangote refinery. Despite initial skepticism from the public, Hundeyin disclosed that he had been approached by an international NGO, Dialogue Earth (formerly China Dialogue Trust), with a proposal to pen an article criticizing the refinery under the guise of environmental concerns. The offer was for N800,000, approximately $500.

In a series of posts on X, Hundeyin described his internal conflict about whether to go public with the serious allegations against Dialogue Earth. He accused the NGO of attempting to commission a smear campaign while pretending to address environmental issues.

“I wrestled with the decision to make this public, but it’s crucial to send a message to external and internal forces trying to undermine the interests of half a billion West Africans,” Hundeyin stated. He revealed that the NGO wanted him to criticize the Dangote Refinery by exploiting topics like environmental concerns, climate change, and energy transition policies, ultimately suggesting that the Nigerian government should halt the refinery project based on these arguments.

Hundeyin’s decision to go public was met with mixed reactions. Some netizens applauded his courage and advised him to prioritize his safety. To further clarify his position, Hundeyin appeared on Arise Television, where he reiterated his claims and explained the broader context. He argued that foreign entities were exploiting Africa’s energy challenges, specifically targeting the Dangote Refinery to maintain energy poverty in Nigeria.

“There are foreign interests deeply invested in perpetuating energy poverty in Nigeria and West Africa,” Hundeyin said. “Public exposure remains one of the few powers ordinary people still possess.”

He emphasized that without publicizing this encounter, his claims might have been dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Hundeyin suggested that foreign actors have long benefited from Africa’s energy struggles and that his revelation was essential to shed light on these hidden agendas.

When asked whether other journalists might have been approached with similar offers, Hundeyin responded affirmatively, expressing certainty that he wasn’t the only one targeted. He also noted that after he went public, there was an attempt to discredit him, with some labeling his actions as sensationalist and self-serving.

Hundeyin concluded by stating that while it was common for journalists to receive commissioned offers, this was the first time he had been asked to write something against Nigeria’s interests. He stressed that his decision to expose the bribe was made in the public’s interest, not expecting any action from the government.

“I don’t expect the government to do anything, as they typically don’t. My goal was to educate the public because it’s clear that the government doesn’t seem to care whether the Dangote refinery succeeds or not.”

Pulselens.com