The Promising Impact of Dangote Refinery on Nigeria’s Petroleum Sector.

In a recent statement, Aliko Dangote, the President and Chairman of Dangote Group, asserted that his refinery located in Lekki, which boasts a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, can fulfill Nigeria’s entire petroleum production requirements. This announcement came during a facility tour attended by Zambia’s Minister for Energy, Makozo Chikote.

Dangote emphasized the refinery’s capability to generate sufficient quantities of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, not only for domestic consumption but also for export. “We have more than enough. The refinery is producing enough refined products to meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s requirements,” he remarked, reinforcing the facility’s role in enhancing the country’s energy independence.

Notably, earlier reports indicated that the refinery holds over N600 billion worth of petrol in its reserves. This revelation arrives at a time when the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) stated that local refineries, including Dangote’s, were only meeting 50 percent of Nigeria’s petrol needs as of February 2025. This assertion has sparked discussions, particularly in light of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) ongoing fuel import activities, which it has denied.

The commencement of fuel rollout by Dangote Refinery in September 2024 has created a competitive environment, leading to tensions between the refinery and NNPCL. As the situation unfolds, the potential of Dangote’s refinery could prove pivotal in reshaping Nigeria’s petroleum landscape, fostering self-sufficiency and economic stability within the sector.