In a groundbreaking revelation, Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest individual and Chairman of the Dangote Group, has unveiled plans that could potentially revolutionize Nigeria's energy landscape, declaring an end to the nation's reliance on imported petroleum products as early as next month.
Addressing delegates at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali on Friday, May 17, 2024, Dangote disclosed that the forthcoming milestone would be made achievable through the strategic initiatives of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Nigeria, renowned as Africa's foremost crude oil producer, has long grappled with the need to import substantial quantities of petrol to cater to its burgeoning population. However, with the imminent commencement of operations at the Dangote refinery, this narrative appears poised for a dramatic transformation.
The multi-billion dollar facility has already made significant strides, flooding the market with diesel and precipitating a notable reduction in its price to ₦1,000 per litre.
Dangote expressed unwavering confidence in the refinery's capacity to not only meet Nigeria's domestic petrol demands but also to serve as a pivotal supplier for West Africa's petrol and diesel needs, alongside catering to the continent's aviation fuel requisites.
Asserting the impending cessation of petrol imports, Dangote declared, “Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of a litre.”
As anticipation mounts for the refinery's full-scale operation, Dangote's proclamation heralds a transformative shift in Nigeria's energy dynamics, signaling a momentous stride towards self-sufficiency and economic autonomy in the realm of petroleum production.
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