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Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said Monday that his Dangote Petroleum Refinery has exported more than 1.1 billion liters of petrol between June and the first week of September 2025, a sign the giant plant is supplying both local markets and foreign buyers as it marks its first anniversary of petrol production.
Refinery hits export milestone
Dangote, president of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, made the announcement at a conference, saying the plant has helped ease a problem that Nigeria has battled for decades. “We have been battling fuel queues since 1975, but today Nigerians are witnessing a new era,” he said.
The Ibeju-Lekki refinery, which began producing petrol in September 2024, has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. Dangote said the facility has been selling into the domestic market while exporting petrol, diesel and aviation fuel — creating foreign-exchange earnings even as it supplies Nigerian consumers.
Direct supply, lower prices
Starting Sept. 15, 2025, the refinery begins direct petrol deliveries to registered stations in 11 states, the company said. It set an ex-gantry price of N820 (about $0.55) per liter, with recommended pump prices of N841 ($0.56) per liter for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, and N851 ($0.57) per liter for Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo and Kwara.
The company said it will provide free delivery as its fleet of about 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks is deployed nationwide. Petrol that sold for nearly N1,100 ($0.73) per liter before the refinery began production now retails in parts of the country around N841 ($0.56) to N851 ($0.57), the company said.
Jobs, pay, and industrial goals
Dangote said the project has created thousands of jobs and raised local pay standards. “We have not displaced any jobs; we are creating many more,” he said. “Our employees earn salaries three times the minimum wage. Our drivers receive a living wage, life insurance, health insurance and a lifelong pension.”
The company projects it can move as much as 65 million liters of petrol a day and said the plant could create about 15,000 jobs as operations expand. Dangote said the refinery’s throughput will rise to about 700,000 barrels per day in its second year as planned, and the company aims to expand output of polypropylene and fertilizer for export.
Dangote calls for stronger industry policy
Dangote urged stronger government policies to protect local industry. “Relying on imports means exporting jobs and importing poverty. Nigeria must industrialize to secure its economic future,” he said, adding the refinery will seek partnerships rather than compete directly in retail.
Bloomberg tracks Dangote’s net worth at about $28.8 billion. For the refinery, control over distribution and cost management remain central to long-term success, company executives say. As deliveries expand and the export program continues, Nigerians and regional buyers will watch closely to see whether lower pump prices and steadier supplies become the new normal.
