Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended government support for the Dangote Refinery, describing the multi-billion-dollar venture as a bold investment that should be encouraged rather than constrained.
Speaking on the refinery’s growth and impact, Tinubu said entrepreneurs willing to take significant risks for national development deserve institutional support and favourable policies to thrive.
“A risk taker like the Dangote Refinery must be encouraged by the government,” the president said. “What I did was support him, give him free trade for his own licence, and support him in his efforts to source the necessary crude. Today, he is an exporter.”
The president’s remarks underscore his administration’s position on promoting private-sector investment and industrial expansion, particularly in Nigeria’s energy sector. The refinery, owned by Aliko Dangote, has increasingly been viewed as a potentially transformative project capable of reshaping fuel supply and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
Tinubu’s comments also come amid continuing discussions over energy reforms, crude supply arrangements, and the broader role of government in supporting strategic investments with national economic significance.
