Elegbede Abiodun
A file photo of Aliko Dangote at the refinery
The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for no fewer than 95,000 skilled workers at the peak of construction.
According to a statement by the firm, Dangote disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
According to him, the expansion underscores the group’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.
Upon completion, Dangote said the expanded refinery will surpass the Jamnagar refinery in India to become the largest refinery in the world, significantly strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Dangote noted that the project would rely heavily on Nigerian expertise, creating substantial opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals.
He added that the expansion reflects the group’s long-term vision for industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.
Beyond employment generation, the refinery said the expansion is expected to stimulate local manufacturing, enhance technology transfer, and deepen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
It will also improve fuel security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and deliver significant foreign exchange savings for 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.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Rahamon Bello, described the honour as well-deserved, noting that Dangote’s impact transcends 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.
From the current 650,000 bpd, Dangote plans to scale up the refinery over three years.
