Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has alleged that powerful fuel importers attempted to frustrate the establishment of his $20 billion refinery project, describing them as a “mafia” protecting long-standing import-driven fuel trade in Nigeria.
Dangote made the claim during an interview with the Chief Executive Officer of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Nicolai Tangen, where he spoke about the challenges behind building the massive refinery.
According to him, entrenched interests in the oil importation business resisted efforts to change Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products despite being a major crude oil producer.
He said the refinery project, which began in 2013, faced multiple obstacles ranging from land acquisition delays to infrastructure challenges, some of which he attributed to resistance from influential stakeholders in the industry.
Dangote explained that the project required the construction of major supporting infrastructure, including a private port, roads, and a large water treatment facility, due to the absence of adequate existing facilities.
He added that fluctuating exchange rates and the scale of the engineering work significantly increased the complexity of the project, noting that thousands of workers were involved at peak construction.
The billionaire said the project was driven by his desire to eliminate long-standing fuel scarcity in Nigeria and reduce the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
He added that despite setbacks, financing challenges, and rising costs, the project eventually progressed with support from several African and international financial institutions.
Dangote further stated that the refinery, once fully operational at scale, exceeded initial expectations and represents a major step toward strengthening Africa’s energy self-sufficiency.