By Muhammad Mamman
Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised the growing public optimism surrounding the Dangote Refinery, arguing that expectations that the facility would significantly reduce fuel prices were misplaced.
Reacting to the recent rise in petrol prices across the country, Sowore said many Nigerians had treated the refinery as a “saviour” for the nation’s persistent energy challenges, warning that the project was primarily a private business designed to generate profit.
“While many Nigerians celebrate the Dangote Refinery as if it’s here to save you, we warned you,” Sowore said. “Dangote is a businessman; he’s focused on making profits.”
His comments come amid fresh concerns over the cost of petrol following adjustments in pump prices in several parts of the country, despite the commencement of operations at the massive refinery located in Lagos.
The refinery, owned by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, is widely regarded as one of the largest single-train refineries in the world. With a processing capacity of about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, it was widely expected to reduce Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
However, analysts say the pricing of petroleum products from the refinery will still largely depend on market dynamics, crude oil costs, exchange rates and broader deregulation policies introduced by the federal government.
Nigeria removed fuel subsidies in 2023 under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a policy shift that led to a sharp increase in petrol prices nationwide. While the government has defended the decision as necessary to stabilise public finances, critics argue that the move has worsened the cost-of-living crisis for millions of Nigerians.
Sowore, a vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, said the expectation that a privately owned refinery would automatically translate to cheaper fuel overlooked the realities of a profit-driven market.
The Dangote Refinery began supplying refined petroleum products to the domestic market earlier this year, a development officials say could gradually improve supply stability and reduce import costs.
Despite these expectations, rising fuel prices continue to spark debate across the country, with labour unions, economists and civil society groups divided over whether the refinery will ultimately bring long-term relief to Nigerian consumers.
