Buhari commissions Dangote Refinery in Lagos

…Sanwolu eulogises Africa’s richest man, says he came to Lagos with nothing 45 years ago

By Clement Adeyi

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, commissioned Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single-train refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

The Africa’s oil giant is set to transform Nigeria and Africa’s oil and gas sectoral landscape.

The outfit which is bankrolled by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, has the capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).

It will also provide employment to over 100,000 people.

Dangote came to Lagos with nothing about 45 years ago

It is hoped that the gigantic project would guarantee Nigeria’s exit from the group of oil-rich countries that are chronic importers of petroleum products.

Governor of Lagos, Babajude Sanwolu, while eulogising Dangote, recalled that he came to Lagos with nothing about 45 years ago, but had now become Africa’s richest man.

“Dangote came to Lagos with nothing about 45 years ago, but he is now Africa’s richest man,” Sanwo-Olu jokingly said in his speech during the commissioning.

He described Dangote as a detribalised man who saw the tomorrow of Lagos as a world-class commercial hub where a business in the refinery’s capacity could thrive.

The governor added that Dangote was a Lagosian who had invested robustly in the prosperity of the state and Nigeria.

Earlier, Dangote thanked the Lagos State Government right from the days of the President-elect Bola Tinubu, who governed Lagos between 1999 and 2007, till Sanwo-Olu for providing an enabling environment and support for business successes.

“Those like me, who have made Lagos our home, will testify that since the beginning of the current democratic dispensation, the government of Lagos State has been exceptionally remarkable in its commitment and support for the private sector.

“From the tenure of the President Elect, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who established the Lekki Free Zone, to the incumbent governor H.E Babajide Sanwolu who has been most proactive in ensuring the successful execution of this project, the state government has indeed demonstrated a great commitment to promoting an investment-friendly climate, which made it possible for our group to invest over $30billion in various industries in the state economy over that period,” he said.

“I would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to the Lagos State Government and its successive governors for the resolute facilitation of this enabling business environment.”