By Ayomide Otitoju
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has reiterated his company’s commitment to tackling unemployment in Nigeria, pledging to continue creating jobs and supporting national industrialisation.
Speaking to journalists at the Dangote Refinery complex on Monday, Dangote dismissed concerns that the company’s new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered truck fleet would displace workers, stressing that the initiative is generating more employment opportunities.
“We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more,” he said. “Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum wage. Our drivers receive a living wage, life insurance, health insurance for themselves, their spouses, and up to four children, as well as a lifelong pension. We are not only employing drivers but also mechanics, fleet managers, and other professionals to support the CNG fleet.”
Dangote added that drivers with five years of service and a clean safety record would also be eligible for housing loans. He clarified that while the company respects trade unions, joining them remains optional for staff.
Reflecting on the refinery’s development, he acknowledged the enormous risks undertaken, noting that several industry experts and government officials had advised against such a large-scale private venture. “The decision to build the refinery was not easy. If it had gone wrong, lenders would have taken our assets. But we believed in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
Since production began a year ago, the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility has contributed to reducing petrol prices from nearly ₦1,100 per litre to ₦841 across several states, including Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Edo, Delta, and Kwara. The refinery has also exported over 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) between June and early September 2025, underscoring its dual role in meeting domestic demand and generating foreign exchange.
Dangote warned against Nigeria’s reliance on imports, describing it as “exporting jobs and importing poverty,” and urged the National Assembly to enact legislation supporting the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” policy. He cited the collapse of the once-thriving textile industry as an example of the dangers of unchecked foreign competition.
“Our path to sustainable growth lies in industrialisation, which boosts productivity and supports a circular economy,” he said. “We must build and industrialise our own economies if we want Africa to prosper.”
He further assured Nigerians that the gradual deployment of 4,000 CNG trucks would stabilise nationwide distribution while creating at least 24,000 new jobs.
Dangote also reaffirmed that the refinery remains open to partnerships in the downstream sector, emphasising that collective effort is key to maximising the industry’s potential.
