Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has boldly accused powerful vested interests within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry of orchestrating efforts to derail the operations of his $20 billion refinery. Speaking during an investor forum in Lagos over the weekend, Dangote claimed that a longstanding “cabal” is actively working to frustrate the progress of his 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The business magnate, who is also President of Dangote Group, said that certain players who have long profited from government-subsidised fuel imports are behind persistent sabotage attempts aimed at stalling the refinery’s operations and discrediting the policy direction of the current administration.
“For a very, very long time, those who made billions of dollars from subsidised petroleum imports into Nigeria have consistently tried to sabotage the $20 billion refinery we built in Lagos,” Dangote said, according to a report by global news outlet Semafor.
Fuel Subsidy Removal and Rising Resistance
The refinery has become a major focal point of Nigeria’s post-subsidy fuel economy. Following the official announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023 to end the controversial fuel subsidy regime, Nigeria’s downstream oil sector has witnessed significant structural changes.
According to Dangote, many of the individuals and groups opposing his refinery are the same ones who resisted the subsidy removal, fearing it would upend their decades-old dominance in the petroleum import business.
“These groups are the same people funding resistance to the Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies,” Dangote explained. “They are afraid of a functioning, domestic refinery that cuts them off from the easy money they used to make from fuel imports.”
Confident Despite the Challenges
Despite the pressures and alleged sabotage, Dangote remains optimistic about prevailing over the opposition. With a reputation built on decades of business success across Africa, he expressed confidence that his refinery will continue to operate and ultimately achieve its full capacity.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished,” he said. “But I have been fighting all my life, and I am 100 percent ready and sure that I will win at the end of the day.”
Refinery Impact Already Being Felt
Since the refinery began selling petrol in September 2024, its influence has been notable in reshaping Nigeria’s petroleum supply landscape. Industry data indicates a marked reduction in the volume of imported refined fuel, a shift that Dangote says is hurting the interests of the cabal accustomed to profiting from imports.
Dangote’s facility, considered the largest single-train refinery in the world, has a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is capable of meeting Nigeria’s entire domestic fuel needs. Its full operations are expected to help stabilize prices, create jobs, and save the country billions of dollars in import costs.
Experts have noted that the refinery’s output will significantly enhance Nigeria’s trade balance, reduce foreign exchange demand, and allow the naira to regain strength as dependence on imports dwindles.
Background: A Battle of Interests
For decades, Nigeria has relied almost entirely on imported refined petroleum products, despite being Africa’s top crude oil producer. The failure of government-owned refineries and entrenched corruption around subsidy management created opportunities for a select few to enrich themselves at the expense of national progress.
The fuel subsidy system, which at its peak cost Nigeria over N4 trillion annually, created distortions in the economy and encouraged widespread inefficiencies in the energy sector. It also enabled the rise of a shadowy elite that controlled petroleum import licenses, often making enormous profits with little accountability.
With the emergence of the Dangote Refinery as a game-changer, these interests are now facing an existential threat. Analysts say their resistance is expected but may be futile if government support for the refinery remains strong.
Call for Government Backing and Policy Protection
Economic commentators have urged the federal government to remain steadfast in its support for the refinery and shield it from undue interference. Some also advocate for clear regulatory frameworks that promote local refining while deterring anti-competitive practices from foreign or domestic actors.
“This is a matter of national interest,” said Lagos-based economist Kelechi Ajuzie. “The Dangote Refinery represents one of Nigeria’s most significant industrial breakthroughs. It must be protected from vested interests who want the status quo preserved for selfish reasons.”
Ajuzie also pointed out that fuel subsidy removal and local refining go hand-in-hand if Nigeria is to achieve energy security and fiscal stability. “We cannot afford to return to the era of rent-seeking. Supporting the refinery means supporting national development.”
A Legacy Project Under Siege
The Dangote Refinery has been described as Aliko Dangote’s legacy project — a massive undertaking that spanned nearly a decade from concept to commissioning. With a workforce of thousands and infrastructure that spans hundreds of hectares, the refinery is one of the most ambitious industrial ventures ever executed in Africa.
Beyond domestic fuel supply, the refinery is also projected to export refined products to West African markets, enhancing Nigeria’s regional economic influence.
In the face of sabotage and pressure, Dangote reiterated his commitment to seeing the project through. “Nigeria deserves to refine its own oil. We have the resources, the talent, and the demand. All we need is the willpower to do the right thing,” he said.
Conclusion: A Battle Worth Fighting
As Dangote continues to face opposition from entrenched interests, his refinery remains a symbol of what is possible when visionary leadership, private capital, and national ambition align. The success of the refinery could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s industrial history, freeing the country from the grip of fuel dependency and foreign manipulation.
With local refining gaining ground and policy reforms in motion, the next chapter in Nigeria’s energy journey may finally be one driven by production, not politics.
