The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Friday assured Nigerians that the long-standing issue of nationwide fuel queues has come to an end, guaranteeing seamless petrol availability throughout the festive period.
Speaking with journalists at the State House in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dangote revealed that the refinery has officially informed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of its readiness to supply 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily, significantly higher than the nation’s consumption level.
“Historically, Nigeria has battled fuel queues since 1972. For the first time, we are eliminating those queues, not through imports but by producing locally. Even when we were servicing the refinery, there were no queues. I can assure you that queues are now history”, he said.
According to the richest black man, the refinery is on track to generate excess volumes, noting that by February it will produce 15–20 million litres beyond Nigeria’s requirement. This, he said, will enable exports to neighbouring countries while easing fuel shortages across West Africa.
Dangote added that domestic industries, particularly plastics manufacturers, will now benefit from dependable access to locally sourced feedstock, ending years of dependence on imported materials valued at $400 million annually.
Speaking on his vision ahead, Dangote unveiled plans to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, surpassing India’s Reliance refinery, currently the world’s largest at 1.25 million barrels per day.
“We have already signed the necessary agreements. Construction piling begins before the end of January, and we will deliver on schedule,” he said.
He further announced intentions to boost the company’s urea output to 12 million tonnes each year, positioning Nigeria to outpace Russia and Qatar as the top global producer.
“Our goal is to use our fertilizer company to supply the entire African continent,” he said. Commenting on the recent dip in petrol and diesel prices, Dangote linked the development to stronger competition and reduced smuggling.
“Prices are going down because we must compete with imports. Luckily, smuggling has dropped significantly, though not completely,” he explained.
He emphasized that the refinery is a strategic national investment, stating, “we’re not here to recover $20 billion overnight. The legacy I want to leave is that whatever Nigerians need, fuel, fertilizer, power, we will be part of delivering it.”
The industrialist also pointed to logistical hurdles within Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, especially the congestion at key ports.
“Apapa is full. Tin Can is full. Lekki is mainly for containers. You cannot export coal or copper if you have nowhere to ship from,” he noted.
Dangote, in an effort to address these bottlenecks, said the Group is constructing what is expected to become West Africa’s largest deep-sea port at Olokola, scheduled for completion within two to two-and-a-half years.
He also endorsed the Tinubu administration’s naira-for-crude policy, calling it a patriotic step aimed at strengthening the economy, though he admitted that international oil companies have shown resistance.
“It’s a teething problem, but it will be resolved, either through legislation or administrative action,” he said.
For years, Nigerians have struggled with fuel queues, particularly during the Christmas season. Since President Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy, the situation has largely stabilised.
Do you believe Dangote that there won’t be fuel scarcity during festive period? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
