Dangote Makes Christmas Promise to Nigerians as Fuel Queues End

• Aliko Dangote has assured Nigerians that nationwide fuel queues are now a thing of the past, promising stable petrol supply throughout the Christmas period and beyond, as his refinery delivers 50 million litres daily.

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has declared that Nigeria’s long history of fuel queues has ended, assuring uninterrupted petrol supply during the Christmas season and beyond.

Speaking to journalists at the State House in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dangote confirmed that the refinery has officially notified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of its readiness to supply 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily — more than the country’s daily consumption.

“Historically, Nigeria has battled fuel queues since 1972. For the first time, we are eliminating those queues, not through imports but by producing locally. Even when we were servicing the refinery, there were no queues. I can assure you that queues are now history,” Dangote said.

He added that by February, the refinery will be producing 15–20 million litres above Nigeria’s needs, creating surplus volumes for export to neighbouring countries and reducing fuel scarcity across West Africa.

Dangote further disclosed that local manufacturers, especially in the plastics industry, will now benefit from reliable access to locally produced feedstock, ending years of dependence on imports estimated at $400 million annually.

Looking ahead, the industrialist announced an expansion plan that will raise refinery capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028 — surpassing India’s Reliance refinery, currently the world’s largest at 1.25 million barrels per day.

“We have already signed the necessary agreements. Construction piling begins before the end of January, and we will deliver on schedule,” he said.

He also revealed plans to scale up urea production to 12 million tonnes annually, positioning Nigeria to overtake Russia and Qatar as the world’s largest producer.

Dangote commented on recent declines in petrol and diesel prices, attributing them to increased competition and reduced smuggling.

“Prices are going down because we must compete with imports. Luckily, smuggling has dropped significantly, though not completely,” he noted.

He emphasised that the refinery is a long-term investment for national growth:

“We’re not here to recover $20 billion overnight. The legacy I want to leave is that whatever Nigerians need — fuel, fertilizer, power — we will be part of delivering it.”

Dangote highlighted logistics challenges in the solid minerals sector, particularly congestion at major ports, and revealed that the Group is developing what will become West Africa’s largest deep-sea port at Olokola, scheduled for completion in two to two-and-a-half years.

DON’T MISS: BREAKING: CAC Orders Nationwide Crackdown on Unregistered POS Operators

He also backed the naira-for-crude policy, calling it a patriotic move, despite initial resistance from international oil companies.

On global competition, Dangote said the refinery will thrive:

“What we want is to make Nigeria the refining hub of Africa. All African countries import fuel. We want what we consume to be produced here.”

He urged wealthy citizens to invest in productive ventures rather than luxury assets:

“If you have money for a private jet, invest in industries and create jobs.”

Dangote described his meeting with President Tinubu as a routine consultation on the economy, saying it was “very fruitful” and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s path to sustainable industrial growth.