The Dangote Group has revealed that its planned expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day will generate direct employment for at least 95,000 skilled workers at the peak of construction.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, made the disclosure on Saturday in Lagos while being inducted as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. He described the project as a significant step toward Nigeria’s industrial transformation and long-term economic self-reliance.
Dangote emphasized the group’s strong focus on local capacity development, stating that the expansion will create substantial opportunities for Nigerian engineers, technicians, artisans, and other 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,” he said.
Upon completion, the expanded facility is projected to overtake India’s Jamnagar refinery to become the world’s largest single-train refinery. The project is expected to be executed over the next three years.
Dangote highlighted that the initiative goes beyond job creation, as it will stimulate local manufacturing, promote technology transfer, and strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain. It is also expected to enhance national fuel security, significantly reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, and generate substantial foreign exchange savings for the 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,” he added.
The expansion aligns with the group’s broader vision of driving industrialisation across Nigeria and the African continent through heavy investment in engineering excellence and sustainable growth.
Prof Rahamon Bello, President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, praised the honour as well-deserved, noting that Dangote’s contributions extend far beyond physical infrastructure.
“What makes this recognition fitting is not only what has been built but also what has been inspired,” Bello said. “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.”
The announcement comes as the existing 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery continues to ramp up local fuel production, gradually reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol and diesel. Industry observers view the planned expansion as a bold move that could position Nigeria as a major refining hub in Africa and beyond.
