Dangote refinery to resolve fuel supply challenges in W/Africa  

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Africa’s largest single oil refinery being constructed by the Dangote Group at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Lagos, would resolve lingering fuel supply challenges in the West African sub region, when it becomes operational, expectedly, in first quarter of 2018.

This was as President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, accompanied by Ambode, Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, Okechukwu Enelamah, Nigeria’s minister of industry, trade and investment, among other federal and state government officials, was at the zone for an on-the-spot assessment of level of work at the 650,000 barrel per day refinery.

President Gnassingbe after the inspection did not speak with the press. He was said to be heading to Abuja for a discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Governor Ambode said the decision of Dangote to site, what is clearly the largest single refinery in Lekki, confirmed Lagos as the prime investment destination in West Africa and would positively change the face of oil and gas business in the sub region.

“This investment is one of the biggest in Africa today and will have a huge impact on the economy of not only Nigeria, but the whole of West African region. This refinery, when completed, apart from creating jobs, will contribute immensely to solving the fuel supply challenge in the West Africa,” Ambode said.

According to the governor, aside the fact that the project confirmed the positive investment climate in Lagos, it is also sent strong signal that the future prosperity of West Africa is in collaboration between government and investors. This, he added, explains why his administration has been working to encourage investment in the state.

Ambode, who invited Togolese investors to take advantage of the positive investment climate in Lagos, reiterated that the state was open for businesses, and that his administration, to encourage investors, was on its part investing in infrastructure and security of lives and property.

Enelamah described the refinery as a partnership between private sector and government at its best, and commended Dangote for being not only a Nigerian champion but champion of Africa with his massive investments and re-investments, which according to him, were creating jobs and growing the economy.

“We need champions and Dangote is a Nigerian champion; he is an African champion; he is also a role model. We need many examples and with the repositioning that the Federal Government is doing, we are going to see many more examples,” Enelamah said.

On his part, Dangote commended President Gnassingbe for finding out time to inspect the refinery, adding that he was happy with the interest and encouragement being received over the project.

Apart from the refinery, there is also petrochemical, fertilizer and gas plant with daily production capacity of 3 billion cubic feet of gas, being developed by the Dangote Group, all in one location.