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President and Chief Executive of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has declared that Nigeria’s long history of fuel scarcity and queues has finally come to an end following one year of petrol production from his 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery.
Speaking in Lagos at a conference to mark the first anniversary of petrol production on 3rd September 2025, Dangote said Nigerians had endured queues at filling stations since 1975, but the trend has been broken by the refinery’s operations.
“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” he said.
Dangote explained that the refinery has enough capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand and also contribute to foreign exchange earnings through export of refined products. He disclosed that between June and early September 2025, the refinery exported more than 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He noted that the project was one of the most difficult industrial ventures in Africa, attracting skepticism from experts, investors, and government officials. According to him, many argued that only sovereign nations could undertake such a large-scale refinery.
“The decision to build the refinery was not easy. If it had gone wrong, lenders would have taken our assets. But we believed in Nigeria and Africa,” Dangote said.
Despite opposition and financial risks, the refinery has succeeded in reducing petrol prices in parts of the country. Dangote revealed that the price of petrol, which was nearly N1,100 per litre before the refinery started production, has dropped to N841 in Abuja, Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara. He added that with the gradual introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, the price reduction will soon be felt nationwide.
On job creation, Dangote stressed that the refinery has not displaced workers but is generating thousands of employment opportunities. He said the rollout of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks is expected to create at least 24,000 new jobs across Nigeria.
“We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more. Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum wage. Our drivers receive a living wage, life insurance, health insurance for themselves, their spouses and four children, as well as a lifelong pension. We are not only employing drivers but also mechanics, fleet managers, and other professionals,” he explained.
Dangote also addressed union matters, saying while his company respects labour groups, joining a union remains a personal decision for each employee.
Beyond energy, the billionaire industrialist called for urgent protection of local industries to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports. He pointed to the collapse of the once-vibrant textile industry as a warning, urging government to support policies that encourage local manufacturing.
“Other nations were not industrialised by outsiders. We must build and industrialise our own economies. Without this, how can others invest? That is why I believe the National Assembly should enact legislation to support the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy. Relying on imports means exporting jobs and importing poverty,” Dangote said.
He concluded that Nigeria’s sustainable growth lies in industrialisation, stressing that a strong local economy would also make the country attractive to other investors.
