Dangote Reveals Pushback Over Refinery Project
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has said his $20bn refinery project faced strong resistance from powerful interests in Nigeria’s oil sector.
He said some groups linked to fuel imports and subsidy gains tried to frustrate the project from the early stages of development.
Dangote explained that securing land for the refinery took several years due to delays and pushback from vested interests.
He said the opposition came from operators who benefited from fuel importation and feared losing influence once local refining began.
He added that the project was almost stalled multiple times but his team stayed committed despite the pressure.
According to him, the refinery was part of a system shift that reduced dependence on imports and challenged long-standing profit structures in the sector.
Dangote noted that the refinery has now changed Nigeria’s fuel supply pattern and continues to grow in capacity.
He also said it sources crude locally and from other countries, with plans to expand output further in the coming years.
