The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged the region to end its dependence on petrol imports, spotlighting Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a shining example of African industrial capability and self-reliance.
During a high-profile visit to the refinery, which boasts a massive capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, ECOWAS Commission President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, praised the facility as a symbol of private sector-led transformation and a model for the continent’s industrial future.
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope,” Touray remarked. “Everyone who doubts Africa’s potential should come here. This is where our focus must be—trusting in African visionaries like Alhaji Dangote who believe in the continent’s future.”
Touray highlighted the refinery’s vital role in enabling the region to meet stringent environmental standards, specifically the 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur limit for petroleum products. Imported fuels often fail to meet these benchmarks, causing health and environmental risks across member states.
“We continue importing substandard products when regional facilities like Dangote’s can exceed these standards,” he said, stressing the private sector’s pivotal role in driving ECOWAS’s industrialization agenda.
The visit, coinciding with ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, reinforced the Commission’s commitment to closer collaboration between governments and private enterprises. Touray emphasized that policy must be informed by direct engagement with industry realities.
“We cannot make decisions for the private sector from afar. Visits like this offer crucial insights into the challenges they face—challenges that governments must urgently address,” he stated.
Touray also underscored the need for a robust industrial strategy to combat youth unemployment, poverty, and insecurity, affirming that “only the private sector can deliver the scale of impact required.” He pledged ECOWAS’s full support to ease market access for regional champions like Dangote Group.
He called on other African nations to follow Nigeria’s lead in investing in infrastructure that promotes the continent’s collective economic interests.
Leading the delegation, Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote reaffirmed his belief that Africa’s economic sovereignty is hindered by excessive reliance on imports.
“As long as we import what we can produce, we remain underdeveloped,” Dangote declared, presenting the refinery as undeniable proof of Africa’s ability to build world-class infrastructure.
Addressing earlier doubts about the refinery’s capacity, Dangote confirmed the facility is fully operational and capable of meeting the petroleum demands of Nigeria and West Africa at large.
He pointed to the immediate benefits, noting diesel prices have fallen sharply—from N1,700 to around N1,100 per litre—since production began, positively impacting sectors like industry, mining, and agriculture.
Dangote also highlighted the significant savings for Nigerian consumers, with petrol prices from the refinery between N815 and N820 per litre—about half the average price of $1 (N1,600) per litre in neighbouring countries.
“Many Nigerians don’t realize they pay only 55% of what others in the region pay for petrol,” he said, promising even greater energy security and reduced import dependence as the refinery ramps up output.
