Africa’s leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, says Nigerians can look forward to a smooth and uninterrupted Christmas season, declaring that the era of fuel scarcity and panic-buying especially during the Yuletide is now over.
Speaking to newsmen on Friday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Dangote said the country has, for the first time since 1972, ended its cycle of festive-season fuel shortages as the Dangote Refinery now supplies stable volumes to the domestic market.
He revealed that the refinery has formally written to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, confirming its ability to supply 50 million litres of petrol daily, a level he says is more than sufficient to guarantee a totally crisis-free Christmas and New Year.
According to him, even while parts of the facility undergo scheduled servicing, fuel queues have disappeared nationwide. “By the grace of God, queues are now history. They will never come back—not during the Yuletide, not after,” he assured.
Dangote added that by February, the refinery will produce an extra 15 to 20 million litres above national consumption, ensuring long-term stability and leaving Nigeria with surplus for export to Europe, the United States and regional neighbours.
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He also said the refinery’s operations will end Nigeria’s dependence on petrochemical imports, especially for plastics, saving the country between $350 million and $400 million annually.
The billionaire businessman outlined an ambitious expansion plan that will upgrade the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, making it the largest in the world ahead of India’s Reliance Refinery.
On pricing, Dangote explained that petrol and diesel will continue to be sold at competitive and stable rates, despite ongoing smuggling prompted by the sharp price difference between Nigeria and its neighbours.
He reiterated his support for President Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, saying Nigeria cannot develop by depending on imports, and must instead pursue aggressive industrialisation driven by domestic investors.
Dangote described his meeting with the President as a routine and “very fruitful” conversation on the economy, investment environment and the broader national outlook.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
