President and Chief Executive of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, says the refinery has ended Nigeria’s five-decade-long struggle with fuel queues.
Speaking in Lagos at the first anniversary of the refinery’s petrol production, Dangote said Nigerians had faced fuel scarcity since 1975, but the situation has been resolved since the facility began operations on September 3, 2024.
He disclosed that despite warnings from experts and investors that the project was too risky, the refinery has cut petrol prices from nearly ₦1,100 per litre to ₦841 in parts of the country. Between June and early September 2025, it exported over 1.1 billion litres of petrol, demonstrating its capacity to meet domestic demand and earn foreign exchange.
Dangote said the refinery has created jobs rather than displacing them, with the planned deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks expected to generate at least 24,000 jobs. Employees, he added, earn three times the minimum wage and enjoy pensions and health insurance.
He urged Nigeria to protect its industries and discourage the dumping of cheap foreign goods, warning that reliance on imports amounts to “exporting jobs and importing poverty.”
Looking ahead, Dangote announced plans to expand production to 700,000 barrels per day in the refinery’s second year, positioning Nigeria as Africa’s refining hub and a global leader in polypropylene and fertiliser production.
He assured that the refinery would not enter the retail fuel business but will work with other downstream stakeholders. Dangote also commended IPMAN for supporting the CNG truck initiative and pledged continued commitment to job creation and industrialisation.
