…says refinery ended Nigeria’s 50-year fuel queue crisis
Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has announced that the company will deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks nationwide, a move projected to create at least 24,000 jobs across Nigeria.
Speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of petrol production from the $20 billion, 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery, Dangote said the trucks would provide employment for drivers, mechanics, fleet managers, and support staff, while also reducing transportation costs in the fuel distribution chain.
“We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more,” Dangote said. “The CNG trucks will not be operated by robots. Each truck comes with six jobs directly attached to it, from drivers to mechanics, ensuring that thousands of families are empowered. Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum wage and enjoy health insurance, life insurance, and pension benefits.”
End of Fuel Queues
Reflecting on the refinery’s impact since commencing petrol supply on September 15, 2024, Dangote declared that Nigeria’s decades-long fuel scarcity crisis had finally been resolved.
“We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” he said. “The refinery has changed the narrative, cutting petrol prices from nearly N1,100 per litre before we began production to N841 in key regions. With CNG trucks coming on stream, this benefit will soon be nationwide.”
He revealed that between June and early September 2025, the refinery exported over 1.1 billion litres of petrol, demonstrating its ability to meet domestic needs while also generating foreign exchange.
Industrialisation, Not Importation
Dangote stressed that Africa’s economic future depends on industrialisation, not import dependence. He warned against the dumping of cheap foreign goods, citing the collapse of Nigeria’s textile industry as a cautionary tale.
“Other nations were not industrialised by outsiders. We must build and industrialise our own economies. Importation exports jobs and imports poverty. Nigeria must adopt a ‘Nigeria First’ policy to protect local industries,” he said.
The business magnate recalled the risks he faced building the refinery, saying industry experts and even governments warned that such projects were only feasible for sovereign nations. “If it had gone wrong, lenders would have taken all our assets. But we believed in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
No Retail Ambition
Dangote clarified that the refinery will not compete in the retail petrol market. “We have no plans to buy filling stations. Our focus is refining, exporting, and delivering value,” he stated.
Expansion Plans
Looking ahead, he disclosed that the refinery’s capacity would be expanded to 700,000 barrels per day in its second year of operation. The group also plans to make Nigeria the world’s leading producer of polypropylene and fertiliser, further boosting industrial growth and exports.
“Nigeria is now the refining hub of Africa,” Dangote declared. “Our commitment is to support government, create jobs, add value, and strengthen the economy.”
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, industry stakeholders, workers, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which has been mobilising members to register for the free distribution initiative using CNG trucks.
