Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, announced that expanding the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will create employment for over 95,000 skilled workers at peak construction.
According to the group, Dangote revealed this on Saturday in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, citing the project as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
According to him, the expansion demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to engineering excellence, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.
“This award is particularly meaningful because it recognises what we are doing in the industry, especially our commitment to employing engineers and skilled professionals. At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect to have about 95,000 skilled workers on site, and we will continue to grow,” Dangote said.
Dangote said that once completed, the new refinery will exceed India’s Jamnagar refinery as the world’s largest refinery, significantly boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Dangote stated that the project would be primarily reliant on Nigerian expertise, offering substantial opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled workers. He also stated that the growth reflects the group’s long-term strategy for industrialization in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
Beyond job creation, the refinery stated that the development is expected to boost local manufacturing, enhance knowledge transfer, and strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
It will also improve fuel security, reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, and provide significant foreign exchange savings to the Nigerian economy.
“The scale of this expansion reflects our confidence in Nigerian capacity and our belief that Africa has the ability to build world-class infrastructure that meets global standards,” Dangote stated.
Prof. Rahamon Bello, President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, characterized the distinction as well-deserved, pointing out that Dangote’s impact extends beyond physical infrastructure.
“What makes this recognition fitting is not only what has been built but also what has been inspired. Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s journey continues to motivate a new generation of engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to think boldly, act decisively, and believe in the immense possibilities within our continent,” Bello said.
Dangote intends to expand the refinery from its present capacity of 650,000 bpd over the next three years.
