In a significant move for Nigeria’s energy sector, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have committed to a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening energy security and accelerating industrial development.
The commitment was announced during a high level visit by NNPC Ltd.’s leadership to the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, where both organisations pledged to move beyond past challenges and focus on operational excellence and national interest.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, described the renewed collaboration as central to the refinery’s founding vision and a catalyst for Africa’s industrial transformation.
He commended the new leadership of NNPC Ltd. for adopting a proactive and partnership driven approach.
Dangote noted that NNPC Ltd. currently holds a 7.25 per cent equity stake in the refinery on behalf of Nigerians and advocated deeper collaboration within the existing industrial complex rather than duplicating assets.
He disclosed that the refinery is expanding into a fully integrated industrial hub, including plans for a 400,000 metric tonne Linear Alkyl Benzene facility expected to exceed Africa’s current production capacity.
According to him, the future of refining lies in high value petrochemicals, which generate higher margins than fuel production alone. He stressed that prioritising domestic processing over the export of raw materials would enhance foreign exchange earnings and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bashir Bayo Ojulari, affirmed the company’s commitment to transparency and productive partnership, distancing the organisation from what he described as an unproductive past.
He said discussions would focus on identifying practical opportunities and consolidating proposals into a joint working framework.
Ojulari praised the refinery’s operational performance, revealing that the plant was observed running at 661,000 barrels per day during the visit, surpassing its 650,000 barrels per day nameplate capacity.
He described the facility as a source of national pride and evidence of Nigeria’s ability to leverage global technology to overcome industrial constraints.
Both parties agreed to identify priority areas for collaboration and develop a structured implementation framework in the coming weeks, signaling a partnership positioned to reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape and deepen industrialisation across the continent.
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