We’ve Ended 50 Years Of Fuel Queues In Nigeria — Dangote Refinery – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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 President/Chief Executive, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has declared that since the refinery began produc­ing petrol a year ago, Nigeria’s five-decade-long struggle with fuel queues has finally come to an end.

Speaking at a conference to mark the first anniversary of the launch of petrol from the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery, Dangote highlighted that Nigerians have endured persistent fuel queues since 1975. However, this issue has been steadily resolved since the refinery commenced produc­tion on September 3, 2024.

“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” he said.

Acknowledging the numerous challenges the refinery has faced since its inception, Dangote em­phasised the company’s unwav­ering commitment to Nigeria and Africa.

“The journey has been chal­lenging because we sought to transform the downstream sec­tor in Nigeria. Some believed we were taking food from their tables, which simply isn’t true. What we have done is to make our country and continent proud. Previously, only two African countries were not importing petrol, but regret­tably, they have since resumed imports. This is detrimental to Africa,” he added.

Reflecting on the challenges faced during the refinery’s de­velopment, Dangote disclosed that the project involved enor­mous risk. He received repeated warnings from industry experts, investors, local and foreign gov­ernment officials, who argued that only sovereign nations un­dertook such large-scale refinery ventures. He admitted that had the project failed, he would have lost all his assets to lenders.

“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,” he said.

Despite opposition and eco­nomic headwinds, the refinery has successfully reduced the price of petrol from nearly N1,100 before production began to N841 in the South West, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara. With the gradual rollout of CNG-powered trucks, Dangote anticipates this price reduction will soon be felt nationwide.

He noted that the refinery has sufficient capacity to meet Ni­geria’s domestic demand while also generating foreign exchange through exports.

He revealed that between June and first week of September 2025, the facility had exported over 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), underscoring its ca­pacity to meet domestic demand and contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings.

Emphasising job creation, he stated that the refinery has no in­tention of displacing workers but is instead generating thousands of new employment opportu­nities. The deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks is expected to create at least 24,000 jobs across Nigeria.

“We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more. The CNG trucks will not be op­erated by robots,” he said. “Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum wage. Our drivers receive a living wage, life insurance, health insurance cov­ering themselves, their spouses, and up to four children, as well as a lifelong pension. We are not only employing drivers but also mechanics, fleet managers, and other professionals to support the CNG fleet.”

Dangote clarified that while the company respects trade unions, membership is a personal choice for each driver.

He reaffirmed his commit­ment to Nigeria’s industrialisa­tion, describing it as essential for the continent’s development.

Dangote emphasised the ur­gent need for Nigeria to protect its local industries and discour­age the dumping of cheap foreign goods, citing the collapse of the once-thriving textile sector as a cautionary example.

He noted that Nigeria’s path to sustainable economic growth lies in industrialisation, which not only boosts local productivity but also supports a circular economy.

“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. My goal is to see Africa prosper, as we have the fastest-growing pop­ulation in the world. Relying on imports means exporting jobs and importing poverty. Many in­dividuals with greater financial resources than myself want to invest, but the challenges we face discourage them. Numerous sectors are still in urgent need of industrialisation,” he said

He reiterated that with the introduction of CNG trucks, the refinery can deliver products to consumers anywhere in Nigeria, mitigating all associated risks.

Dangote reiterated that the refinery remains open to part­nerships and collaborations with other stakeholders in the downstream sector, stressing that the industry stands to gain more through collective effort and cooperation.

He also clarified that the refin­ery has no plans to enter the retail market, noting that he declined opportunities to acquire filling stations when they were offered for sale.

Looking ahead, Dangote an­nounced that the refinery’s capac­ity would be expanded to 700,000 barrels per day in its second year of operation, with the aim of fur­ther supporting economic growth and job creation.

“Nigeria has now become the refining hub of Africa. We are set to become the largest exporter of polypropylene and are aiming to make Nigeria the world’s leading producer of fertiliser. These ini­tiatives will generate substantial foreign exchange, create employ­ment, and stimulate growth in other sectors,” he said.

“We are fully committed to supporting the government in adding value, creating jobs, and building a stronger economy.”

He also expressed his grati­tude to the Federal Government, the refinery’s partners, dedicated workforce, and the Nigerian pub­lic for their continued support.

In particular, he commend­ed the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nige­ria (IPMAN) for encouraging its members to register for the free distribution initiative utilising CNG-powered trucks.

Dangote also used the occa­sion to showcase some of the CNG-powered trucks currently loading petrol from the refinery, emphasising that the company will successfully deploy all 4,000 trucks across the country soon.

He allayed any fears of poten­tial attacks on the drivers or the trucks, stressing that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and that security agencies are fully empowered to protect its citizens and infrastructure.