Oil cartels want my refinery dead, but Nigerians are winning – Dangote

Femi Fabunmi

Aliko Dangote, the President and CEO of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, says oil mafias are working hard to destroy his $20 billion refinery, just as they ruined Nigeria’s textile industry years ago.

He spoke on Monday at the refinery’s first anniversary of petrol production.

Dangote said the past year has been very difficult, but the refinery was built to change how Nigeria’s oil sector works.

He explained that some people are angry because the refinery has disrupted their usual way of making money. Despite that, the project has made Nigeria and Africa proud, since most African countries still import fuel.

He noted that many refineries in South Africa have already collapsed because of international traders and local marketers working together against local production.

Dangote dismissed claims that the refinery cannot produce enough petrol. He revealed that it has exported about 1.8 billion litres of petrol in the past three months.

According to him, Nigeria’s fuel queues, which began in 1975, have finally ended since the refinery started producing petrol in September 2024. He admitted that building the refinery was risky.

Many experts and government officials told him not to do it because only governments usually attempt such huge projects. Dangote said if the project had failed, banks would have seized all his assets.

Despite the risks, the refinery has already helped lower petrol prices from almost ₦1,100 per litre to about ₦841 in some parts of the country.

He added that with the introduction of CNG-powered trucks, the price reduction will soon spread nationwide.

Between June and September 2025, the refinery exported more than 1.1 billion litres of petrol. Dangote said this proves the refinery can meet Nigeria’s demand while also earning foreign exchange.

He stressed that the refinery is creating jobs, not taking them away. The 4,000 CNG trucks being introduced will create at least 24,000 jobs. Drivers will get good pay, health insurance, life insurance, and pensions.

Dangote urged Nigeria to protect local industries, warning that too many imports could destroy them just as the textile sector was destroyed.

He said Africa must focus on industrialisation instead of depending on foreign products, adding that Nigeria’s growing population makes it urgent to stop exporting jobs.

Dangote explained that petrol is cheaper in Nigeria because of sacrifices the refinery is making. He said the refinery is forced to buy crude oil at a high cost and is not allowed to export the crude it buys.
He also revealed that most petrol in neighbouring Benin Republic is smuggled from Nigeria.

On claims that he sells petrol cheaper abroad, Dangote said the oil mafia sometimes forces the refinery to reduce export prices just to survive in a market dominated by cheap, subsidised fuel.

The refinery recently announced a petrol price cut and the launch of CNG-powered trucks to lower distribution costs. But the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) dismissed this as a “Greek gift,” accusing Dangote of attacking workers’ rights.

Dangote mocked the union, saying: “They said we gave Nigerians a Greek gift; why don’t they give a French one? Even if it’s a Greek gift, it is still a gift.” He insisted the new distribution system will create jobs instead of cutting them.

The refinery has already received the first batch of its 4,000 CNG-powered trucks. About 1,000 are already available, 500 more are at the port, and the rest will arrive before the end of the month.

According to the group’s head of corporate communications, Anthony Chiejina, the trucks signal a move from the old fuel distribution system to a more modern and efficient one.