Aliko Confident says that the polite refinery has concluded 50 years of fuel …

● Save Nigeria from $ 1 billion dollars

The president/CEO, Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote, said that since the refinery started producing petrol a year ago, the struggle of five decade of Nigeria with the fuel queues has finally arrived.

Dangote said that the company deserved the celebration for the rescue of the country from the economic burden of paying $ 1 billion in Demuirge through the institution of its 650,000 barrels per day refinery and producing petrol that now satisfies the daily demand of the country.

Speaking on Monday at the Lagos refinery complex, during a press conference to celebrate the first anniversary of the launch of petrol from the structure and the start of the launch of the 10,000 natural gas (CNG) trucks, Dangote said that the Nigerians had suffered persistent fuel queues persistent since 1975.

However, he said that the problem was constantly solved since the refinery started to launch petrol on September 15, 2024.

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

Recognizing the numerous challenges that the refinery has had to face since its beginning, Dangote underlined the unshakable commitment of the company for Nigeria and Africa.

“The trip was demanding because we tried to transform the sector downstream into Nigeria.

“Some believed that we were taking food from their tables, which is simply not true. What we have done is to make our country proud and our continent.

“Previously, only two African countries were not importing petrol, but unfortunately they resumed imports. This is harmful to Africa,” he added.

Reflecting on the challenges faced during the development of the refinery, Dangote revealed that the project involved a huge risk.

He received repeated warnings from industry experts, investors, local and foreign government officials, who claimed that only sovereign nations undertake large -scale refinery initiatives.

He admitted that if the project failed, he would have lost all his assets for the financiers.

“The decision to build the refinery was not easy. If it had gone wrong, the financiers would have taken our assets. But we believed in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

Despite the opposition and the economic winds, the refinery successfully reduced the price of petrol from almost n1.100 before the production began at N841 in the south -ovest, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Kwara. With the gradual launch of methane -powered trucks, Dangote anticipates this reduction in prices will soon feel nationally.

Bloodbeth: Gunmen Storm’s baptism ceremony in Niger, killing 22 village inhabitants

He observed that the refinery has enough ability to satisfy Nigeria’s internal demand, also generating foreign currency through exports. He revealed that between June and the first week of September 2025, the structure had exported over 1.1 billion liters of Premium motor spirit (PMS), underlining its ability to satisfy internal demand and contribute significantly to profit in foreign currency.

By underlining the creation of jobs, he said that the refinery has no intention of showing off the workers but was instead generating thousands of new job opportunities. The deposit of 4,000 methane -powered trucks would be expected to create at least 24,000 jobs in Nigeria.

“We have not cleared any job; we are creating many others. The methane trucks will not be managed by the robots,” he said.

“Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum salary. Our drivers receive a living salary, life insurance, health insurance that covers themselves, their spouses and up to four children, as well as a pension for a lifetime. We are not only using drivers but also mechanical, fleets and other professionals to support the CNG fleet.”

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

He reaffirmed his commitment to the industrialization of Nigeria, describing it as an essential for the development of the continent.

Dans underlined Nigeria’s urgent need to protect its local industries and discourage the unloading of low -cost foreign goods, citing the collapse of the textile sector once flourishing as an example.

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

“Other nations have not been industrialized by strangers. We must build and industrialize our economies. Without this, how can others invest? That’s why I believe that the national assembly should issue legislation to support the federal government policy” Nigeria First.

“Many people with financial resources greater than me want to invest, but the challenges we face we discourage them. Numerous sectors still urgently need industrialization,” he said
He reiterated that with the introduction of methane trucks, refinery can provide products to consumers everywhere in Nigeria, mitigating all the associated risks.

Dans reiterated that the refinery remains open to partnerships and collaborations with other parties interested in the downstream sector, underlining that the industry is able to earn more through collective effort and cooperation.

He also clarified that the refinery does not plan to enter the retail market, observing that he refused the opportunities to acquire filling stations when they were offered for sale.

Looking to the future, Dangote has announced that the skill of the refinery would be expanded to 700,000 barrels per day in its second year of activity, with the aim of further supporting economic growth and the creation of jobs.

“Nigeria has now become the refining center of Africa. We are destined to become the largest polypropylene exporter and we are aiming to make Nigeria the main worldwide manufacturer of fertilizers. These initiatives will generate substantial changes, will 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 for the federal government, the partners of the refinery, the dedicated workforce and the Nigerian public for their continuous support.

In particular, he praised the independent association for Nigeria (IPMan) oil marketing for encouraging its members to register for the free distribution initiative using methane level trucks.

Dangote also used the opportunity to show some of the methane -powered trucks that currently load petrol from the refinery, stressing that the company will soon distribute all 4,000 trucks across the country.

He has relieved any fear of potential attacks on drivers or trucks, underlining that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and that security agencies are fully authorized to protect its citizens and infrastructures.

However, the richest man in Africa also revealed the company’s plan to start investments in electric vehicles (EV) since January 2026.

He said Nigeria will start earning $ 500 million from the export of cement from next year. [ARISE NEWS]

Related