Dangote: Fuel Queues Over, Refinery to Lead Global Output by 2028

Aliko Dangote says Nigeria has finally ended decades of fuel scarcity, declaring that queues at filling stations will not return as his refinery ramps up supply to the domestic market and beyond.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, the industrialist said the Dangote Refinery has formally notified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority that it can supply 50 million litres of fuel per day.

He said the company is already exporting products to Europe and the United States for the first time in Nigeria’s history, while servicing existing refineries in the country without shortages. By February, he noted, production will exceed national demand by up to 20 million litres daily, allowing continued exports and reliable supply to neighbours.

Dangote stressed that the refinery will keep fuel prices reasonable to stay competitive with imports, although smuggling remains a challenge because of wide price gaps between Nigeria and surrounding countries. According to him, diesel and petrol will remain affordable as the company treats its investment as a long-term national commitment rather than a quick profit drive.

He outlined major expansion plans, revealing that the refinery is set to grow from its current capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028 — surpassing India’s Reliance Industries to become the largest in the world. Early groundwork for the project will begin before the end of January.

In addition, he said the group is scaling up fertilizer production to 12 million tonnes annually to serve the entire African market, a level he said would outpace Russia and Qatar. He also confirmed work on the Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ondo/Ogun axis, describing it as the biggest in West Africa and key to unlocking Nigeria’s vast solid minerals potential hampered by limited export-ready port space.

Responding to questions about the government’s “Nigeria First” policy, Dangote said prioritizing local industry is essential to stop exporting jobs and importing poverty. He called on wealthy Nigerians to invest more in manufacturing rather than private jets, noting the country’s demands for power, infrastructure and jobs are rising fast alongside a growing population.

He praised President Tinubu’s support, especially on the naira-for-crude initiative to boost local refining, though he acknowledged challenges in crude supply due to international oil companies seeking premium export markets.

Dangote described his audience with the President as a routine economic discussion and expressed optimism that government-industry collaboration will strengthen Nigeria’s industrial future.