The $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has been hailed as a transformative milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward industrialisation and economic self-reliance, according to the Technical Committee of the One-Stop Shop (OSS) for the sale of crude oil and refined products in naira.
During a facility tour on Tuesday, the committee, led by its coordinator, Mrs Maureen Ogbonna, described the refinery as a “breath of fresh air” and a symbol of hope for the nation’s economic emancipation.
“This refinery touches all our lives. There’s scarcely any sector unaffected, from pharmaceuticals to construction, food to plastics.
“God has used the President of the Dangote Group to liberate Nigeria. I see this as the beginning of an industrial revolution.”
The visit came as part of efforts to align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving full domestic sufficiency in petroleum products and establishing Nigeria as a major global exporter.
Ogbonna reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to dismantling regulatory and logistical bottlenecks affecting the supply and sale of domestic crude oil and refined products in naira.
Recalling previous visits to the facility, Ogbonna praised the scale and sophistication of the project, particularly the refinery’s petrochemical laboratory.
“It is truly mind-blowing that one man could envision and execute such a project. That lab alone is an institution. I don’t know of any institution in Nigeria, or globally, that boasts such a laboratory for petrochemical analysis,” she said.
Ogbonna urged Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, to remain undeterred by criticism, noting that his project represents a global accomplishment far beyond personal gain.
“My advice to him is: do not be discouraged by critics. Despite the obstacles, he was driven by a vision for Nigeria’s future that goes beyond Africa,” she added.
In his response, Dangote expressed gratitude to the OSS technical committee for supporting the implementation of the Tinubu administration’s Naira-for-Crude initiative, which he said has significantly stabilised the Nigerian economy.
“The Naira-for-Crude swap has contributed to the reduction of petroleum product prices, eased the pressure on the dollar, and helped stabilise the local currency,” Dangote said.
However, he highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly the refinery’s reliance on imported crude oil due to domestic supply shortages.
In recent months, the facility has been sourcing crude from the United States to maintain operations.
Dangote emphasised the need for bold, long-term investments in strategic sectors to drive true industrialisation.
He noted that the refinery’s construction required not only technical innovation but also the development of supporting infrastructure, including a state-of-the-art marine terminal capable of handling the world’s largest vessels.
Designed to process a diverse range of crude oils, from African and Middle Eastern grades to US Light Tight Oil, the Dangote Refinery boasts a capacity sufficient to meet 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel, with surplus products available for export.
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