President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as “a great phenomenon of our time,” praising it as a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial ambition and potential for economic transformation.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 37-kilometre Lekki Deep Seaport Access Road on Thursday in Lagos, the President commended Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his enduring commitment to national development through large-scale investments.
“Having inspected the Dangote refinery, I see a massive investment that has become a great point of reference. I want to thank Aliko Dangote for his vision and dedication,” Tinubu stated.
The President acknowledged the importance of the Lekki Deep Sea Port—an initiative he launched during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State—and celebrated its success in reducing shipping costs by eliminating the need for trans-shipment.
He also applauded the construction of the port access road, built by Dangote Industries Limited under Nigeria’s Tax Credit Scheme, with Hitech Construction Company Limited serving as subcontractor.
Call for Federal-State Collaboration on Infrastructure
Tinubu used the occasion to call for deeper coordination between state governments and federal authorities in infrastructure planning and execution. He directed the Minister of Works and the Surveyor General to work more closely with governors across the country.
“I urge all state governors to align planning approvals with federal infrastructure plans,” he said. “Working together will eliminate compensation delays and ensure smoother delivery of public projects.”
The President also emphasized a nationwide ban on dredging activities within 10 kilometres of all federal bridges, urging immediate enforcement by relevant authorities.
Private Sector’s Role in Infrastructure Expansion
Aliko Dangote expressed gratitude to the President for envisioning the Lekki port project and reaffirmed the private sector’s readiness to partner with the government on future infrastructure ventures.
The event follows Tinubu’s recent commissioning of Phase 1 of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, underscoring his administration’s drive to expand the nation’s transport and logistics network.
A Beacon of Industrialization for Africa
Commissioned in May 2023, the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery stands as Africa’s largest oil refinery. The facility is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.
During a recent tour of the refinery, ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray praised the project as a beacon of hope for regional industrialisation and a model for private sector-led growth in Africa.
The refinery is also making headlines for its recent import of five million barrels of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July delivery—an expansion that could set new records for monthly WTI intake.
