President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has reiterated that his $20 billion refinery project continues to face active resistance from entrenched interests benefiting from Nigeria’s long-standing fuel import system. Speaking at an investor forum in Lagos, Dangote declared that despite significant opposition, he remains confident in overcoming the challenges and bringing the 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery to full operational capacity.
According to a report by Semafor, Dangote accused powerful groups—long profiting from government-subsidised fuel imports—of attempting to obstruct the refinery’s progress. He suggested that these cabals are also resisting the Nigerian government’s subsidy reforms and facilitating the importation of substandard fuel products.
“We’re still fighting, and the fight is not over,” Dangote said. “But I have fought all my life, and I am 100 percent certain I will prevail.”
He also alleged that international oil companies (IOCs) are deliberately denying the refinery access to domestic crude supplies, inflating prices to force importation from distant markets like the United States. Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries, similarly accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of issuing licenses to import dirty fuels, undermining local refining efforts.
Despite expressing past regrets over undertaking the refinery project, Dangote affirmed his resolve to complete and scale up the facility, which is viewed as critical to ending Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined fuels. The refinery began producing petrol in September 2024 and has already contributed to reducing local fuel prices.
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