Kenya’s president, William Ruto, has praised Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote for what he described as a homegrown solution to Nigeria’s long-standing fuel shortages.
Speaking on Nigeria’s energy challenges, Ruto noted that despite decades of oil production, the country has struggled with persistent fuel scarcity, often marked by long queues at petrol stations.
He attributed a turning point to the establishment of the Dangote refinery, describing it as a landmark development driven by local initiative rather than foreign intervention.
“The solution wasn’t in Europe, it wasn’t in Asia. The solution was in Nigeria,” Ruto said, underscoring the importance of African-led industrialisation in addressing the continent’s economic challenges.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has historically relied on imported refined petroleum products due to limited domestic refining capacity, a gap the Dangote refinery aims to fill.
Analysts say the project could significantly reshape Nigeria’s energy sector, reduce dependence on imports, and ease supply bottlenecks that have affected consumers for years.
