President/Chief Executive of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has declared that Nigeria’s decades-long struggle with fuel scarcity and queues has ended following one year of petrol production from his 650,000 barrels per day facility.
Speaking on Monday at a press conference in Lagos to mark the refinery’s first anniversary and the rollout of 10,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks, Dangote said the project had saved the country about $1 billion in demurrage and was now meeting Nigeria’s daily fuel demand.
“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” he said, noting that petrol prices have dropped from nearly N1,100 per litre before production began to N841 in parts of the country. He added that with the CNG trucks being deployed nationwide, the price relief would soon be felt everywhere.
Dangote disclosed that between June and early September 2025, the refinery exported over 1.1 billion litres of petrol, underscoring its capacity to meet domestic needs and generate foreign exchange. He also announced plans to expand output to 700,000 barrels per day in its second year and to begin investments in electric vehicles by January 2026.
On job creation, Dangote said the refinery was not displacing workers but generating thousands of new jobs through the rollout of 4,000 CNG trucks, expected to employ at least 24,000 people. He also pledged good pay, insurance, and pensions for staff.
Dangote emphasised that the project was built despite risks, opposition, and scepticism, stressing that it symbolised confidence in Nigeria’s industrialisation drive. He urged the government to protect local industries, discourage imports that “export jobs and import poverty,” and adopt stronger “Nigeria First” policies to boost economic growth.
He assured that the refinery would remain open to partnerships, had no plans to enter the retail filling station market, and was committed to supporting national development.
