Addressing the audience, Aliko Dangote, the chairman and founder of the Dangote Group, received a warm welcome and expressed gratitude for the support received throughout the project. He recognized President Buhari's unwavering support and encouragement, which played a vital role in making this unprecedented investment a reality. Dangote expressed his appreciation to the banks, particularly Access Bank and Zenith Bank, for their contributions to the refinery's success.
The businessman also praised the security agencies and the Chief of Naval Staff for their diligent efforts in ensuring the progress of the project while prioritizing national security. Dangote hailed the refinery as a magnificent accomplishment, highlighting its potential to transform Nigeria's energy landscape. The refinery, with a capacity of 35 megawatts, will power five states within Nigeria and aims to meet domestic demand while also exporting petroleum products.
With over 40,000 Nigerians already employed and the potential to create up to 100,000 jobs, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery stands as a symbol of economic empowerment and self-sufficiency. The project is expected to provide a market worth $11 billion for Nigerian crude oil and significantly reduce the country's reliance on imported petroleum products.
The completion of the refinery is a culmination of the Dangote Group's corporate vision to produce what Nigeria consumes, promote self-sufficiency, and position the country as a leading nation in Africa. President Buhari, in his remarks, praised the group's commitment to replicating its success in the cement and fertilizer markets, emphasizing the transformative impact on Nigeria's oil and gas industry.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery boasts several notable features, including the world's largest single-train petroleum refinery with an annual production capacity of 838 kilotons per annum. It also incorporates a polypropylene plant and a subsea pipeline infrastructure, capable of handling 3 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. The project's scale and magnitude required extensive construction, including the use of over a quarter of a million piles and a concrete requirement equivalent to paving 720 kilometers of federal roads in Lagos.
The inauguration ceremony was not only a celebration of this remarkable achievement but also a testament to the reforms implemented within Nigeria's petroleum industry. President Buhari's leadership and clear vision for the future played a crucial role in driving these changes, positioning Nigeria to harness the opportunities presented
