…As Dangote reiterates refinery’s capacity to meet ECOWAS petroleum needs
ECOWAS leaders have praised the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a powerful symbol of Africa’s industrial potential and economic self-reliance.
During a recent high-level visit to the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, described the refinery as a beacon for Africa’s future. He said it demonstrated the transformative potential of private sector-driven industrialisation in the region.
Dr Touray was accompanied by key figures from the ECOWAS Commission, including the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka; Commissioner of Internal Services, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma; Director of Private Sector/SME, Dr Tony Luka Elumelu; and Chief of Staff, Hon Abdou Kolley, among others.
“What I have seen today gives me tremendous hope. Anyone who doubts Africa’s capabilities should come here,” Dr Touray said.
“This project is beyond anything I imagined. The scale, the sophistication, the vision behind it all, Alhaji Dangote has placed immense trust in this continent, and that commitment deserves our full encouragement.”
He added that the refinery, which produces fuels that meet Euro V standards, is vital to the ECOWAS goal of enforcing a 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur limit for petroleum products. Many of the fuels currently imported into West Africa do not meet this benchmark, posing health and environmental risks.
“We are still importing products that fall below our regulatory standards, when a facility like Dangote Refinery is capable of producing far superior fuels,” he said. “This proves that the private sector must lead the way in our regional industrial agenda.”
Dr Touray used the occasion to call for stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors, asserting that governments must engage more directly with business leaders to craft effective policy.
“Our visit offers a chance to listen to Mr Dangote’s views on what the private sector needs from the ECOWAS community,” he said.
“As we mark ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, we are determined to place the private sector at the heart of our decision-making. We cannot continue to design policies in isolation from the realities on the ground. First-hand visits like this allow us to understand the challenges business leaders face, and they offer insights that we must take seriously.”
He noted that the time had come to pursue a regional industrial policy that could respond to persistent problems such as unemployment, poverty, and insecurity.
“Governments alone cannot meet the development goals we have set. The scale of investment and innovation required can only come from the private sector,” he said. “We must identify and remove the obstacles they face. This is the only practical route to job creation and lasting prosperity.”
Dr Touray also pledged ECOWAS support to help businesses like the Dangote Group expand into regional markets. He encouraged other African countries to follow Nigeria’s lead in developing infrastructure with continental impact.
“I once again congratulate the Dangote Group and commit that the ECOWAS Commission will work to open up the regional market to them, and indeed, the entire African market,” he said.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, led the delegation on a tour of the site, outlining the journey of constructing the world’s largest single-train refinery and discussing the challenges and breakthroughs encountered along the way.
He reiterated that Africa’s dependency on imported goods stifles growth and undermines economic independence.
“So long as we continue importing what we are capable of producing, we will remain underdeveloped,” Dangote stated. “This refinery is proof that we can build world-class infrastructure ourselves.”
He pushed back against claims that the refinery would not be able to meet domestic and regional demand, saying such concerns were misplaced.
“There has been talk suggesting we cannot even supply Nigeria, let alone other West African countries. But now, our regional partners have seen for themselves what is possible, and hopefully this inspires others to take on similarly ambitious industrial projects,” he said.
Dangote pointed to the broader economic benefits already being realised from the refinery’s operations. He noted that local diesel production had helped bring down prices significantly.
“When we started producing diesel last year, the price dropped from ₦1,700 to ₦1,100 almost immediately. Since then, the price has fallen even further. This reduction has had a wide-reaching impact, supporting industries, aiding mining operations, and giving a much-needed boost to the agricultural sector,” he said.
He also remarked that Nigerian consumers were currently paying considerably less for petrol than people in neighbouring countries.
“Across the border, the average petrol price is about $1 per litre, which is roughly ₦1,600. But here, we are selling at between ₦815 and ₦820. Most Nigerians do not realise they are paying just over half of what others in the region are paying.
“We have an even bigger initiative in the works, details we have not disclosed yet, but Nigerians should understand that this refinery is built for them, and the benefits will continue to grow.”
He pointed out that local refining not only improves fuel affordability but also bolsters energy security and reduces reliance on imports.
“This is just the beginning,” Dangote said. “We must continue on this path if we truly want to transform our economies and our future.”