By Ayomide Otitoju
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been declared capable of meeting the entire petroleum needs of the West African region, a major endorsement from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following a high-level visit to the facility by officials of the regional bloc.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, who led the delegation, described the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery as a transformative project and a beacon of hope for Africa’s industrial future. The delegation included top ECOWAS officials such as the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka; Commissioner for Internal Services, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma; and Director of Private Sector/SME, Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu.
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope,” Dr. Touray said after a tour of the refinery. “Everybody who doesn’t believe in Africa should come here. This facility is proof of what the private sector can achieve, and we congratulate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for believing in Africa.”
He lauded the refinery’s adherence to the Euro V fuel standard, which ensures cleaner energy with 50ppm sulphur content—critical for improving environmental health across ECOWAS states. “We are still importing substandard fuels when a facility in the region is capable of producing to our desired specifications. This must change,” he added.
Dr. Touray stressed the need for greater collaboration between ECOWAS governments and the private sector, noting that industrialisation must be driven by private enterprise, with public policy aligning to support regional ambitions.
“As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, we are reaffirming our commitment to listening to the private sector and removing barriers to regional trade and development,” he said.
The ECOWAS President pledged full support for enabling companies like the Dangote Group to access broader markets across the West African sub-region and beyond. “The ECOWAS Commission will do everything possible to open up the regional market to the Dangote Group and similar continental champions,” he said.
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, who conducted the delegation around the refinery, said the facility was designed to serve not only Nigeria but the entire West African region. He dismissed scepticism over its production capacity, emphasizing that the refinery is already demonstrating impact.
“Some have questioned whether we can even meet Nigeria’s needs, let alone the region’s. But today, ECOWAS officials have seen the reality themselves,” Dangote stated.
He reiterated that Africa’s reliance on imports undermines its economic sovereignty. “As long as we import what we can produce, we will remain underdeveloped. This refinery shows that we can build for ourselves, to world-class standards,” he said.
Highlighting the refinery’s effect on the local economy, Dangote revealed that diesel prices in Nigeria dropped from ₦1,700 to ₦1,100 per litre shortly after production began, with further reductions now in effect. He noted the knock-on benefits across mining, agriculture, and other critical sectors.
“Today, the pump price of petrol at our refinery is ₦815 to ₦820 per litre, while in neighbouring countries it is equivalent to about ₦1,600. Nigerians are paying nearly 45% less,” he said.
Dangote also hinted at upcoming expansion plans, affirming that the refinery was built with the primary aim of benefitting Nigerians.
“This is a national asset. Our goal is to ensure Nigerians enjoy maximum value through affordable fuel, improved energy security, and reduced dependence on imported refined products,” he said.
The Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, is the world’s largest single-train refinery and represents a landmark achievement in Africa’s push for industrial self-reliance.
