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 The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has stated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery had not displaced any jobs but was, instead, creating thousands of new employment opportunities. 

Dangote made this known during a press briefing at the refinery, where he addressed the ongoing dispute with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). 

He said that the company’s deployment of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks would create at least 24,000 jobs nationwide. 

Dangote said Nigerians, who had endured persistent shortages since 1975, were now witnessing “a new era”. 

“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are seeing real change,” he stated. 

He noted that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery project was fraught with risks, noting that lenders could have seized his assets had it failed. 

He recalled how investors, industry experts, and foreign officials doubted its feasibility, because of the belief that only sovereign nations could execute such massive infrastructure. 

According to him, the refinery has already helped stabilise petrol prices, with pump prices dropping from nearly N1,100 per litre before operations began to about N841 in the South West, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara States. 

To further cut costs, Dangote said 4,000 CNG-powered trucks were being deployed nationwide, a move expected to create at least 24,000 jobs. 

“We’ve not displaced anyone. These trucks will not be driven by robots,” he added. 

He stressed that employees enjoy robust welfare packages, including comprehensive health insurance for spouses and up to four children, life insurance, and lifetime pensions