Business
Dangote Refinery Symbolises Hope for Africa ― ECOWAS President
. . . We’ve capacity to meet ECOWAS’s petroleum needs ― Dangote
Towering over the Lekki Free Zone on the edge of the Atlantic, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is more than just a feat of engineering; it has become a symbol of ambition, vision, and industrial self-reliance for an entire continent.
The above view was expressed by the West Africa’s highest political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
During a high-level visit to the state-of-the-art 650,000 barrels-per-day facility, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, declared the refinery a beacon of hope for Africa’s future, and a clear demonstration of what the private sector can achieve in the drive for regional industrialisation. The delegation also included ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka; Commissioner of Internal Services, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma; Director of Private Sector/SME, Dr Tony Luka Elumelu; and Dr Touray’s Chief of Staff, Hon Abdou Kolley, among others.
ALSO READ: HURIWA Decries Southeast’s Exclusion From Infrastructure Projects
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope, and everybody who doesn’t believe in Africa should come here. Visiting here will give you more hope because this is exactly what our continent should focus on,” Dr Touray remarked, visibly moved by the scale and sophistication of the facility. “We have seen something I couldn’t have imagined, and really the capacity in all areas is impressive. We congratulate Alhaji Dangote for this trust in Africa because I think you do this only when you have the trust, and he has a vision for Africa, and this is what we should all work to encourage.”
Dr Touray noted that the refinery, which produces fuel to Euro V standard, is critical for enabling the ECOWAS region to meet its 50ppm sulphur limit for petroleum products—a standard many imported fuels fail to meet, posing health and environmental risks across member states.
“We are still importing products below our standard when a regional company such as Dangote can meet and exceed these requirements,” he said. “The private sector must take the lead in ECOWAS industrialisation.”
The ECOWAS Commission President used the visit to call for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector, stressing that policy decisions must reflect the real challenges and opportunities experienced by African industrialists.
“We believe our visit also serves as an opportunity to hear directly from Mr Dangote, about what the private sector expects from the ECOWAS community,” Dr Touray remarked, noting that as ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the community is more committed than ever to bringing the private sector to the table — to listen to their perspectives and to understand how best to create an environment that works for them.
“We cannot continue to make decisions on behalf of the private sector from a distance. Visits like this provide us with first-hand experience and direct insight into the challenges they face—challenges that authorities and government officials must work to address,” he added.
Dr Touray said the time is ripe for the region to pursue an industrial strategy capable of addressing deep-rooted challenges such as youth unemployment, poverty, and insecurity.
“We often speak about poverty eradication and youth employment, but the government alone may not have the capacity to achieve these goals. Only the private sector can deliver the scale of impact required, and it is essential that we listen to them, understand how these objectives can be met, and identify the bottlenecks they face so that they can be effectively addressed. This is the only realistic path to creating jobs and fostering genuine prosperity across our economies.”
He pledged the Commission’s full support for enabling regional giants such as Dangote Group to access wider ECOWAS markets and urged other African nations to follow Nigeria’s example by building infrastructure that serves the continent, not just individual countries.
“Once again, I congratulate the Dangote Group and commit that ECOWAS Commission will do everything to open up the ECOWAS market for them, if not the entire African continent.”
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, led the ECOWAS delegation on a detailed tour of the facility, explaining the challenges and milestones involved in bringing the world’s largest single-train refinery to life.
He reiterated his longstanding position that Africa’s continued dependence on imported goods is unsustainable and hinders economic sovereignty.
“As long as we continue importing what we can produce, we will remain underdeveloped,” Dangote said. “This refinery is proof that we can build for ourselves at scale, to global standards.”
He noted that the Dangote Refinery is fully equipped to meet the petroleum needs of Nigeria and the entire West African region, countering claims that the facility would not produce enough for local and regional demand.
“There have been many claims suggesting that we don’t even produce enough to meet Nigeria’s needs, so how could we possibly supply other West African countries? But now, they are here to see the reality for themselves and, more importantly, to encourage other nations to embark on similarly large-scale industrial projects,” he said.
Noting that Africa will benefit greatly by encouraging trade among its countries, especially through value addition to the continent’s abundant resources, Dangote stressed how the refinery has helped Nigeria to bring down the cost of refined products and production costs across many sectors of the economy.
“Last year, when we began diesel production, we were able to reduce the price from N1,700 to N1,100 at a go, and as of today, the price has crashed further. This reduction has made a significant impact across various sectors. It has supported industries, benefited those of us in mining, and provided vital relief to the agricultural sector. The effect has been far-reaching,” he said.
He also noted that Nigerians are benefiting from local refining as the price of petrol has dropped significantly compared to neighbouring countries.
“In neighbouring countries, the average price of petrol is around $1 per litre, which is N1,600. But here at our refinery, we’re selling at between N815 and N820. Many Nigerians don’t realise that they are currently paying just 55% of what others in the region are paying for petrol. We also have a much larger initiative in the pipeline, something we’ve not yet announced but Nigerians should know that this refinery is built for them, and they will enjoy the maximum benefit from it,” he said.
He emphasised that this price reduction is a direct result of local refining, which continues to improve fuel affordability while enhancing energy security and reducing dependence on imports.
Photo Caption
L-R; President of the ECOWAS Commission; H. E. Dr. Omar Aliau Touray ; ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Affairs; Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma; President/ CE, Dangote Industries Ltd, Aliko Dangote; ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Sédiko Douka; During President of the ECOWAS Commission and His Team Visit to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos on Thursday, May 29, 2025
Africa’s ambition of becoming a global industrial powerhouse hinges on its ability to mobilise long-term financing, deliver reliable electricity and adopt policies that turn its vast natural resources into manufactured products.
The President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote expressed these views in London at the Financial Times Africa Summit during a conversation with David Pilling the Africa Editor of the newspaper.
Dangote, who has outlined a $50 billion investment programme for 2026 to 2030, said the continent must build stronger financial institutions capable of funding large-scale industrial projects, expand electricity infrastructure and establish policies that encourage domestic manufacturing, value addition and economic diversification.
The industrialist maintained that Africa possessed the natural resources, population and investment opportunities required to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, but needed stronger institutions and infrastructure to translate those advantages into sustainable economic prosperity.
Responding to a question on why Africa had produced relatively few industrial enterprises of global scale despite its enormous economic potential, Dangote stressed the need for deliberate policies and institutions capable of supporting long-term industrial investment.
READ ALSO: Thor Empowers Host Communities with 10 Cassava, Palm Oil Processing Plants
The Africa Summit by the FT is a prestigious platform for Africa’s most influential leaders and this year’s Summit lived up to its billing convening leading policymakers, business leaders, financiers and visionaries to explore how Africa can contribute meaningfully to shape the next era of global development.
Dangote said, “I think the number one thing that the continent has to concentrate on doing is having very strong financial institutions, their own financial institutions, and also to have very strong agricultural policy, and also industrial policy”.
He maintained that infrastructure development was equally important but singled out electricity as perhaps the most urgent requirement for unlocking Africa’s industrial potential, adding; “For Africa, what we need the most today is actually power,” he declared.
Dangote explained that inadequate electricity supply continued to undermine Africa’s ability to process its mineral resources locally, forcing countries to export raw materials rather than capture the greater economic value associated with manufacturing and processing. He cited the mining industry as a particularly striking example, noting that companies frequently identified unreliable electricity supply as a major reason for their inability to establish processing facilities close to extraction sites.
According to him, approximately 650 million Africans remain without access to electricity, a deficit he described as fundamentally incompatible with the continent’s industrial ambitions.
He argued that resolving the power crisis would transform Africa’s manufacturing prospects, encourage investment in mineral processing and create substantial employment opportunities.
The industrialist also drew on his experience developing the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) in Lagos to illustrate how Africa’s financing environment could frustrate even commercially promising projects.
He disclosed that the Group had been compelled to finance the refinery against its own balance sheet rather than depend on conventional project financing, which he described as extremely difficult to secure for major African industrial investments.
He explained that prolonged financing negotiations could undermine the viability of industrial projects by delaying execution, increasing costs and exposing investors to changing economic conditions.
For the Dangote Group, the decision to proceed with the refinery without conventional project finance involved extraordinary financial risks, compounded by severe currency depreciation and the enormous cost of developing supporting infrastructure. Dangote said the exchange rate moved from approximately ₦136 to the dollar to as high as ₦1,800 during the refinery’s development, while about 90 percent of the Group’s revenue was denominated in naira.
Dangote said the Group’s proposed $50 billion investment programme was designed partly to encourage other Africans to recognise the opportunities available across the continent.
“The legacy we are trying to set up is how do we industrialise our continent?” he said.
He explained that the Group intended to expand its investments between 2026 and 2030 to demonstrate that African businesses could execute large-scale projects and encourage other investors to participate in developing the continent. The ambition, he stressed, extended beyond the growth of one conglomerate to creating a wider industrial ecosystem capable of supporting businesses, generating employment and retaining more economic value within Africa.
Dangote also challenged African governments to reconsider their approach to industrial protection, warning that allowing cheap imported products to undermine domestic manufacturing could permanently weaken the continent’s productive capacity. He argued that emerging African industries required appropriate policy support to compete against established international manufacturers, particularly where imported products were sold at prices that discouraged investment in local factories.
He, however, distinguished industrial protection from restrictions on trade between African countries, advocating a regional approach that would strengthen manufacturing while preserving the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area. He maintained that African economies should trade more freely among themselves while establishing a common framework to protect their industries against unfair external competition.
The industrialist also questioned why Africa continued to experience widespread poverty despite its extensive agricultural land, mineral resources and youthful population.
He cited the continent’s natural endowments as evidence that Africa’s economic challenges were not principally the result of inadequate resources but of insufficient productive investment and industrial capacity. “Why should we remain poor?” he asked.
Dangote expressed confidence that the continent was entering a period in which African governments, entrepreneurs and investors were becoming increasingly determined to develop their own productive capabilities.
Business
Dangote Calls for Stronger Protection of Local Industries, Unveils Pan-African Energy Distribution Network
President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has urged African governments to adopt policies that protect domestic industries and accelerate industrialisation.
He made the call in London, during the FT Africa Summit where he vented plans to establish an extensive petroleum distribution network across Africa through strategic investments in pipelines, storage facilities and supply corridors.
According to Dangote, the Group is aggressively expanding its petroleum logistics and distribution infrastructure across East, Central and Southern Africa as part of efforts to strengthen energy security, improve access to refined products and eliminate longstanding supply bottlenecks across the continent.
During a wide-ranging interview with Financial Times Africa Editor, David Pilling, the industrialist disclosed that the Group recently acquired a 25 percent stake in a petroleum products pipeline network in Kenya and is pursuing additional infrastructure projects connecting Djibouti and Ethiopia, alongside investments in Cameroon and Namibia.
READ ALSO: NMDPRA Issues Updates on Q3 Crude Supplies to Domestic Refineries
According to him, Africa’s aspiration for economic transformation will remain difficult to achieve without significant investments in infrastructure combined with industrial policies that promote local manufacturing, preserve productive capacity and create sustainable employment opportunities.
“Allowing imports to displace local production means we are exporting our jobs out of the continent and importing poverty into the continent,” Dangote said.
Dangote explained that the expansion forms part of a broader strategy to develop an interconnected African energy supply system capable of linking major refining centres with underserved markets that have historically depended on imported petroleum products and fragmented distribution channels.
“We are very aggressive with that,” he said, in response to questions about the Group’s plans for petroleum depots, pipelines and logistics infrastructure.
He revealed that the acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in Kenya’s petroleum pipeline network was achieved with the support of the Kenyan government and would significantly enhance the movement of refined petroleum products within the East African region.
“Just let me tell you, yesterday, with the support from the President of Kenya, we bought 25 percent of the pipeline network for the distribution of petroleum products,” Dangote disclosed.
The Group is also developing a major petroleum distribution corridor linking Djibouti and Addis Ababa, complete with storage terminals and tank farms designed to facilitate the efficient transportation and storage of refined products.
He added that another strategic project in Cameroon is nearing completion, while Namibia has been identified as a critical hub in the Group’s plan to penetrate Southern African markets.
Dangote described Namibia as a particularly attractive location because of its strategic proximity to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) in Lagos.
“From our refinery to Namibia is just about four days of steaming,” he noted.
According to him, refined products from the Lagos refinery will be transported to Namibia and distributed across interconnected markets, including Botswana and South Africa.
The Group is also examining other supply corridors extending into Zimbabwe and Zambia as part of its broader objective of developing a continental network supported by strategically located storage and transportation infrastructure.
The petroleum distribution expansion complements plans to establish another refinery in Lamu, Kenya, with a projected refining capacity of approximately 700,000 barrels per day.
Dangote noted that East Africa’s growing economies, vibrant mining sector and increasing energy demand make the region an attractive destination for refining investments.
He explained that the proposed refinery would source crude oil from multiple markets rather than depend exclusively on supplies from Kenya or Uganda, ensuring greater flexibility and long-term operational sustainability.
According to him, technical assessments identified Lamu as the preferred location because of its deep-water access, marine infrastructure and availability of critical resources required for large-scale refining operations.
Dangote revealed that the investment decision was concluded within four months, although he alleged that vested commercial interests attempted to delay the project through legal proceedings shortly before its public announcement.
Beyond energy infrastructure, Dangote strongly advocated policies aimed at protecting domestic industries from unfair competition, arguing that industrialisation cannot thrive if emerging African manufacturers are exposed to unrestricted imports from more established economies.
He questioned why African countries should be discouraged from supporting local industries when developed economies increasingly deploy similar measures to strengthen domestic manufacturing and employment.
Drawing parallels with recent developments in major global economies, he argued that industrial protection remains a legitimate and widely accepted economic strategy.
“If America is now saying, no, we are going to protect our industries, who are we in Africa not to protect our own industries?” he asked.
Dangote also disclosed that the Group has earmarked approximately $50 billion for investments between 2026 and 2030, describing the programme as part of a broader mission to demonstrate that African businesses can successfully execute transformative industrial projects at scale.
“The legacy we are trying to set up is how do we industrialise our continent?” he said.
According to him, the investment programme is designed not only to expand the Group’s operations but also to inspire other African entrepreneurs and investors to pursue ambitious industrial ventures capable of reshaping the continent’s economic future.
Looking beyond the energy sector, Dangote identified inadequate power supply, weak financial systems and underdeveloped industrial policies as major challenges constraining Africa’s economic growth.
He described electricity as a fundamental requirement for industrialisation, particularly in manufacturing, mining and mineral processing, where reliable power is essential for value addition.
With an estimated 650 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, he stressed that addressing the continent’s energy deficit would unlock significant opportunities for job creation, industrial development and economic diversification.
Questioning why a continent blessed with abundant natural resources, vast arable land and a young population continues to grapple with poverty, Dangote insisted that Africa possesses all the ingredients necessary to become a major industrial powerhouse.
Expressing optimism about the continent’s trajectory, he maintained that Africa’s industrial awakening has already begun.
“The journey has started,” Dangote declared. “But now we’re awake, and we will make it happen.”
Some motorists and commuters in FCT have expressed mixed reactions to the N66-per-litre petrol discount offered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. as the Oct. 31 deadline approaches.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, some of them commended the initiative while others expressed reservations about its impact.
NAN reports that the Federal Government announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the NNPC Ltd., with public transport operators to receive priority under the arrangement.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement was not a return to petrol subsidy.
READ ALSO: Thor Empowers Host Communities with 10 Cassava, Palm Oil Processing Plants
The minister said the government was also negotiating a ceiling of N1, 350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol in an effort to reduce sharp fluctuations in pump prices.
NAN reports that Dangote Petroleum Refinery cut its gantry petrol price by N25 per litre from N1,350 to N1,325.
Mr Abubakar Saidu, a motorist who resides in Wuse, commended the Federal Government for the discount offered at NNPC Ltd. retail outlets.
Saidu stated that he purchased petrol through the app but sometimes had to wait in long queues before accessing the product.
He said that many Nigerians were unable to benefit from the discount due to network challenges.
“I downloaded the app and followed the procedure before buying the petrol at N1,339 per litre,” he said.
Another commuter who resides at Nyanya, Mr Obi Anyawu, said the intervention had not translated into lower transport fares.
Anyawu said the intervention had failed to ease the burden of high transportation costs on Nigerians.
According to him, commuters are still struggling to afford daily transportation to work.
“The transportation fare keeps increasing, and there has not been any difference,” he said.
Mrs Stephanie Okoro, a commuter who resides at Karu, said commuters were still struggling to afford daily transportation to work.
“I have not benefited from the intervention, and I have not seen any positive impact it has, even among the transporters.
“Commuters continue to face difficulties accessing affordable transportation, with many stranded at bus stops due to high fares,” she said.
Mr Jide Oyetola, a motorist who resides in Bwari, called for a comprehensive review of the intervention and the introduction of additional measures to alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
Oyetola urged the government to explore alternative measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the economic burden on citizens.
“My secretary recently complained that her salary can no longer cover her transportation expenses.
“She said she might not be able to come to work five days a week because her salary can no longer cover her transportation costs.
“Even if she waits for a cheaper bus every morning, the situation will still not be manageable. You cannot blame her. I am sure she is not alone in that plight,” he said.
He said it forced her to consider reducing the number of days she would report to work.
Mrs Nonye Obanla, a commuter who resides at Dutse, urged the government to explore alternative measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the economic burden on citizens.
Courtesy – NAN
₦2.3tn Kaduna Rally Claim: APC Accuses Atiku, ADC of Fake News Plot
Dangote Identifies Power, Financing as Possible Keys to Africa’s Industrial Revolution
Dangote Calls for Stronger Protection of Local Industries, Unveils Pan-African Energy Distribution Network
NMDPRA Issues Updates on Q3 Crude Supplies to Domestic Refineries
FCT Motorists, Commuters Divided over NNPC Petrol Discount
Two Suspected Political Thugs Killed After Attacking NDC Candidate’s Convoy in Ebonyi
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
👉 http://www.serinofil.com
9x8e7n
I went over this website and I conceive you have a lot of superb information, bookmarked (:.
febaag
fabuloso este conteúdo. Gostei muito. Aproveitem e vejam este conteúdo. informações, novidades e muito mais. Não deixem de acessar para descobrir mais. Obrigado a todos e até a próxima. 🙂
I’ll immediately grab your rss as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Im now not certain where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time finding out more or figuring out more. Thanks for great info I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Just wanna input that you have a very nice internet site, I enjoy the layout it really stands out.
Woh I love your posts, saved to favorites! .
Its fantastic as your other posts : D, thankyou for posting. “A gift in season is a double favor to the needy.” by Publilius Syrus.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “Love is made in heaven and consummated on earth.” by John Lyly.
hi!,I love your writing very a lot! proportion we communicate more about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to look you.
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What a perfect web site.
Appreciate it for this rattling post, I am glad I detected this website on yahoo.
I have recently started a web site, the information you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
I very glad to find this internet site on bing, just what I was looking for : D also saved to my bookmarks.
I am really inspired together with your writing skills as well as with the format on your weblog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it is uncommon to see a nice weblog like this one nowadays..
Hey! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!