Refinery of Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote to transport refined petroleum products by sea

Adenike Adeodun -

Key Points

  • Dangote Group plans to transport refined petroleum products by sea to ease road congestion.
  • The company showcased its refinery and other business units at the Abuja trade fair.
  • Dangote is investing in compressed natural gas to reduce its carbon footprint.

Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a strategic plan to transport refined petroleum products by sea. This decision aims to alleviate pressure on Nigeria's road networks and enhance distribution efficiency.

Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, senior adviser to the group president on special projects and strategic relations, announced the initiative in a statement on Sunday. She noted that a jetty has already been constructed in the Lekki Free Zone to facilitate the handling of bulk cargo as part of the refinery's development.

Wali-Abdurrahman emphasized the group's objective to streamline product distribution and reduce road congestion through maritime transport. "Today, we are exporting our products to many African countries through the seaport. We also plan to ease the pressure on the roads from the refinery by transporting finished petroleum products to other ports along the Nigerian coast by sea for further distribution to the hinterland," she stated.

Participants show enthusiastic response to Dangote Group’s opportunities

At a recent trade fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dangote Group garnered significant attention as a major sponsor. The event attracted a large audience eager to learn more about the group’s state-of-the-art refinery, which has recently commenced the discharge of petroleum products.

Attendees explored various business units under the Dangote Group umbrella, including Dangote Fertilizer, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement. Wali-Abdurrahman highlighted the enthusiastic response from participants interested in exploring opportunities within the company.

Peter Ibrahim, a participant at the trade fair, remarked, "I am here at the Dangote booth to find out what business and job opportunities are available at the Dangote Refinery. We know the company must have created several opportunities."

Cement dealer Sale Sagir echoed this sentiment, stating, "Let me be honest. I came to this trade fair because of the Dangote Group. I sell cement, but now I have come to find out what it takes to be a distributor of other products, especially Dangote Petroleum products."

Wali-Abdurrahman further highlighted the company’s commitment to eco-friendly practices by investing in compressed natural gas. "To reduce our carbon footprint and costs, over the past decade, we have converted about a third of our fleet. This is an ongoing process until we convert the entire fleet," she explained.

The president of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu, commended Dangote Group for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s industrialization. Represented by Vice President Legal Aisha Abdullahi, Obegolu praised the company’s contributions to the economy. "The taxes paid by the group have significantly contributed to national revenue, funding infrastructure projects and social programs that benefit millions of Nigerians," he noted.