PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN of Dangote Group, Mr Aliko Dangote, on Friday, assured Nigerians that the era of fuel queues had ended, declaring that his refinery could supply 50 million litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) daily ahead of the 2025 festive season.

Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu, Mr Dangote, Africa’s richest man, said Nigeria and West Africa’s decades-long fuel scarcity, which dated back to 1972, had effectively been resolved with the commencement of local refining on a large scale.

“For the first time, we are supplying Europe and the United States,” he said. “We have written to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) confirming that we can supply 50 million litres daily. Even while servicing sections of the refinery, there are no queues. Fuel queues are history. They will never happen again by the grace of God.”

Mr Dangote also announced plans to scale up the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to become the largest in the world by 2028, surpassing India’s Reliance Industries.

“Reliance is at 1.25 million barrels per day. We will be at 1.4 million barrels per day. The contracts have been signed, piling starts before the end of January, and the expansion will be delivered on schedule,” he said.

Supply to exceed national demand by early 2026

Mr Dangote noted that the refinery’s supply chain now covered the entire West African sub-region, and by February 2026, Nigeria would receive significantly more fuel than it consumed.

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“By February, we will be able to supply 15 million to 20 million litres above Nigeria’s domestic consumption. Even neighbouring countries won’t have queues, because they can officially buy from us.”

He added that the refinery’s output would replace the $350 million–$400 million previously spent annually on importing petrochemical inputs for local industries like plastics.

Fertilizer capacity to hit 12 million tonnes

Mr Dangote also revealed an aggressive expansion in fertilizer production. “We will produce about 12 million tonnes of urea, making us the largest producer in the world—bigger than Russia and Qatar,” he said. “We want to supply the entire African continent.

He, however, expressed concern about continued cross-border smuggling, noting the wide price margin difference between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

“Petrol sells for about N800-plus locally, but around N1,500 to N1,600 across the borders. Even with policing, smuggling will continue because of the profit incentive,” he said. Despite this, he assured that Dangote fuels—diesel and PMS—would remain affordable.

“We’re not here to make back $20 billion overnight. This is a long-term investment. The legacy I want to leave is that whatever Nigeria needs—fuel, power, fertilizer—we will be part of providing it.”

Deep seaport project underway

He disclosed a major port infrastructure plan, saying the group was developing the largest deep-sea port in West Africa at Olokola.

“Olokola will be the biggest port in West Africa, and we will deliver it in the next two and a half years,” he said, blaming Nigeria’s congested ports for hindering solid minerals exports.

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He praised the administration’s decision to allow local refiners pay for crude oil in naira. “It’s a win-win arrangement. I must thank Mr President for that ingenious policy,” he said.

In October, Mr Dangote disclosed that he had begun expanding his refinery in Lagos from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.4 million bpd, targeting to establish the largest refinery in the world ever built at a single site in 2028.

Africa’s richest man said the expansion reflected his group’s belief in Africa’s potential and its commitment to building energy independence for the continent.

“We are expanding the Dangote Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day. When completed, this will be the largest refinery ever built at a single site, surpassing India’s Jamnagar refinery,” he said.