President, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says the nation’s 50-year battle with gas queues has ended, following one yr of petrol manufacturing on the firm’s 650,000 barrels-per-day facility.
Talking in Lagos on Tuesday at a information convention to mark the refinery’s first anniversary of petrol manufacturing, Dangote mentioned that Nigerians, who had endured persistent shortages since 1975, have been now witnessing “a brand new period”.
“We’ve been battling gas queues since 1975, however immediately Nigerians are seeing actual change,” he mentioned.
Learn additionally: If refinery failed, I would have lost all my assets to banks – Aliko Dangote
Dangote revealed that the challenge was fraught with dangers, noting that lenders may have seized his property had it failed.
He recalled how buyers, trade specialists, and international officers doubted its feasibility due to the idea that solely sovereign nations may execute such huge infrastructure.
“Some thought we have been taking meals off their tables. That’s not true. What we’ve carried out is to make Nigeria and Africa proud,” he mentioned.
The refinery has already helped stabilise petrol costs, with pump costs dropping from almost N1,100 per litre earlier than operations started to about N841 within the South West, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara states.
To additional minimize prices, Dangote mentioned 4,000 CNG-powered vans have been being deployed nationwide, a transfer anticipated to create a minimum of 24,000 jobs.
“We’ve not displaced anybody. These vans won’t be pushed by robots,” he added.
He pressured that staff get pleasure from strong welfare packages, together with complete medical health insurance for spouses and as much as 4 kids, life insurance coverage, and lifelong pensions.
Learn additionally: Dangote Refinery exports 1.1bn litres of petrol in three months
On industrialisation, Dangote urged the Nationwide Meeting to again the Federal Authorities’s “Nigeria First” coverage with enabling legal guidelines, warning that dumping of low cost international items undermines native industries.
“Different nations didn’t develop into industrialised by outsiders.
Imports export jobs and import poverty. We should construct our personal economic system,” he mentioned.
Dangote introduced plans to increase refining capability to 700,000 barrels per day within the facility’s second yr.
Based on him, this may place Nigeria as Africa’s refining hub, the world’s main polypropylene exporter, and a serious fertiliser provider.
He dominated out venturing into retail gas distribution regardless of provides to amass filling stations.
The industrialist pressured that the refinery’s focus was on partnerships and wholesale provide.
Learn additionally: Build refineries, compete, Dangote tells petroleum marketers.
Dangote expressed gratitude to the Federal Authorities, trade companions, staff, and Nigerians for his or her help.
He recommended the Unbiased Petroleum Entrepreneurs Affiliation of Nigeria (IPMAN) for embracing the free gas distribution initiative through CNG vans.
Reassuring Nigerians on safety, he mentioned: “This nation is ruled by the rule of legislation. Safety businesses are absolutely empowered to guard lives and infrastructure.”
Whereas showcasing among the newly commissioned CNG vans already loading gas on the facility, he reaffirmed his dedication to “including worth, creating jobs, and constructing a stronger Nigerian economic system”.
