‘Dangote refinery eases pressure on NNPC’, says Ojulari

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr Bayo Ojulari, has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a major stabilising force in Nigeria’s energy system at a time when the state oil company is struggling to keep its government-owned refineries running and meet local fuel demand.

Ojulari made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at a fireside chat titled “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future” during the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026. He said the presence of a functional local refinery had given NNPC much-needed “breathing space” as it faces heavy pressure to ensure steady fuel supply across the country.

According to him, the Dangote Refinery has played a key role in easing Nigeria’s fuel supply challenges. He urged Nigerians to acknowledge the refinery’s contribution to the energy sector, regardless of their personal opinions about its owner, noting that its performance attracted applause from participants at the event.

“Thank God for Dangote Refinery. Thank God. Whether you love Dangote, you hate him, say whatever you want to say, Nigerians should thank God for Dangote,” Ojulari said, drawing applause from the audience.

According to him, the coming on stream of the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery marked a major relief for Nigeria at a time when legacy state-owned refineries were still struggling to deliver at scale.

Ojulari stressed that beyond capacity, the refinery’s local ownership was equally significant for national energy security.

“Thank God he’s a Nigerian. He’s not someone from another continent or another planet. Despite everything, that gave us an opportunity because we have a refinery that is working,” he said.

While acknowledging that the refinery does not yet meet Nigeria’s full domestic fuel demand, the NNPC boss said its operations have significantly reduced vulnerability in the supply chain.

“Yes, it may not meet our full needs, but it gives us a breathing space. And luckily, we are shareholders in that refinery as well,” he noted.

Ojulari’s remarks signal a notable shift from years of tension between NNPC and the Dangote Group, which had previously clashed over issues ranging from crude supply terms and regulatory approvals to pricing and market-dominance concerns.

Under past leadership, the relationship was often characterised by public disagreements and mutual suspicion, with Dangote accusing state institutions of frustrating the refinery project. At the same time, regulators insisted on enforcing market and quality standards.

However, Ojulari said the current NNPC leadership has adopted a more pragmatic approach anchored on collaboration rather than confrontation.

“So we said, what’s the hurry? We have a refinery that is working. It’s not owned by NNPC, but it’s a Nigerian refinery, built in Nigeria, working in Nigeria,” he said.

He disclosed that NNPC has since engaged directly with Dangote to develop a framework for cooperation aligned with the Petroleum Industry Act.

“Our strategy is to collaborate with the Dangote Refinery and maximise the value delivered to Nigerians. That was our first strategy. We had a meeting with Alhaji Dangote, explained our institutional responsibilities, and we agreed on the pathway towards deeper collaboration while maintaining our role as NNPC,” Ojulari explained.

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