Nigeria Wouldn’t Survive Without It” — Tinubu Defends Support For Dangote Refinery

President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s backing of the Dangote Refinery, insisting that Nigeria’s survival could have been at risk without strong domestic refining capacity.

According to Ireporter Online, the President made the remarks on Thursday while speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda, where he stressed that Nigeria’s population size and heavy reliance on imported petroleum products make local refining a matter of national security rather than mere economic policy.

Tinubu noted that ongoing global conflicts and disruptions in key energy supply routes have further exposed the dangers of depending on imported refined fuel, adding that Nigeria must strengthen its energy independence to withstand external shocks.

The President explained that the Federal Government’s decision to support the Dangote Refinery was a deliberate strategy to safeguard the country’s energy future. “Today, with the crisis around the whole world, particularly around conflict, Nigeria wouldn’t be able to survive, over 200 million people, without a refinery,” he said.

He further emphasized that governments must actively encourage major private sector investments capable of reducing vulnerability to global supply disruptions, describing the Dangote Refinery as a critical national asset.

Tinubu also praised billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote for taking significant financial risks in building the refinery, noting that such investments deserved strong government backing. “A risk-taker like the Dangote Refinery must be encouraged by the government in power. What I did was support him, give him free trade for his own licence, and support him in his efforts to source the crude that is necessary,” he said.

He added that the refinery has already begun contributing to domestic supply and even export of refined products such as PMS and aviation fuel, marking a shift in Nigeria’s energy landscape.

The President’s comments come amid rising global energy uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, which have disrupted oil production and shipping routes and triggered volatility in international fuel prices.

The Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, ease pressure on foreign exchange demand, and strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.

Tinubu maintained that local refining is no longer optional for a country of Nigeria’s scale, reaffirming that his administration will continue to support initiatives aimed at boosting energy stability and economic resilience.