BY GODWIN OBI
Nigeria’s decades-long ordeal with fuel scarcity may have finally been buried. Billionaire industrialist and President of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has declared that the country’s 50-year nightmare of petrol queues is over, thanks to the giant refinery’s output.
Speaking at an event marking the first anniversary of petrol production from the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility, Dangote said Nigerians had endured recurring fuel queues since 1975, but that the refinery has steadily brought relief since it began supplying petrol on September 15, 2024.
“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” Dangote told participants.
A Gamble Against All Odds
Dangote revealed that the refinery was a colossal gamble that could have cost him everything. “If the project had gone wrong, lenders would have seized all our assets,” he admitted, recalling how global experts and government officials warned him that only sovereign nations should attempt such an ambitious refinery project.
But against skepticism, financial pressure, and stiff resistance from vested interests, the refinery not only came to life — it is now reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape.
From Scarcity to Stability
Since production began, the refinery has pushed petrol prices down from nearly ₦1,100 per litre to ₦841 in parts of the South West, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara. With CNG-powered trucks set to expand distribution nationwide, Dangote expressed confidence that the benefits will soon be felt across the country.
Between June and early September 2025, the refinery also exported over 1.1 billion litres of petrol, underscoring its ability to meet domestic demand while generating foreign exchange.
Jobs, Not Job Losses
Dismissing fears that the refinery would take away livelihoods, Dangote stressed that the venture is a job creator, not a job killer. The planned deployment of 4,000 CNG trucks will generate at least 24,000 jobs, while drivers and staff enjoy wages far above minimum wage, alongside health insurance, life cover, and pensions.
“Our employees earn three times the minimum wage. Our drivers receive living wages, insurance for their families, and lifelong pensions. We are not replacing people with robots — we are creating opportunities,” he said.
The Bigger Picture: Industrialise or Perish
Dangote used the platform to call for stronger protection of Nigerian industries, warning against the unchecked importation of cheap foreign goods. Citing the collapse of Nigeria’s once-vibrant textile sector, he argued that industrialisation is the only path to sustainable growth and job creation.
He urged the National Assembly to back the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy with legislation that safeguards local industries.
“Other nations were not industrialised by outsiders. We must build and industrialise our own economies. If we rely on imports, we are exporting jobs and importing poverty,” he declared.
A New Era
As the refinery marks its first anniversary, Dangote insists his vision is bigger than fuel. For him, the refinery is a statement: Africa must believe in itself, invest in itself, and build for its people.
“Nigeria has the fastest-growing population in the world,” he said. “We cannot continue to rely on others. My dream is for Africa to prosper — and this refinery is just the beginning.”
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2025-09-16
