Business

NNPC refineries may never work again – Dangote

Published

5 months ago

July 11, 2025

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote

NNPC refineries may never work again – Dangote

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed deep skepticism over the possibility of Nigeria’s state-run refineries — located in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna — ever becoming operational again.

Speaking on Thursday during a visit by members of the Global CEO Africa delegation from the Lagos Business School to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, the billionaire industrialist criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) for failing to get the refineries working, despite significant financial investments.

According to Dangote, the government-run refineries have consumed approximately $18 billion with no tangible output. In contrast, he noted that his privately built 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery allocates more than half its capacity to producing Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), unlike the government-owned refineries which only managed about 22 per cent.

Dangote recounted the failed attempt to privatise the facilities during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which was reversed under the leadership of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“The refineries that we bought before, which were owned by Nigeria, were doing about 22 per cent of PMS. We bought the refineries in January 2007. Then we had to return them to the government because there was a change of government,” he said.

“And the managing director at that time convinced Yar’adua that the refineries would work. They said they just gave them to us as a parting gift or so. And as of today, they have spent about $18bn on those refineries, and they are still not working. And I don’t think, and I doubt very much if they will work,” he added.

He likened the ongoing efforts to revive the outdated refineries to attempting to modernize a decades-old automobile with new technology.
“(The turnaround maintenance) is like you trying to modernise a car that was built 40 years ago, when technology and everything have changed. Even if you change the engine, the body will not be able to take the shock of that new technology engine,” Dangote explained.

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His comments reinforce earlier criticisms from former President Obasanjo, who last year also questioned the viability of the refineries. Obasanjo had said the NNPC lacked the capacity to operate them and recalled how even international oil giants, such as Shell, declined his request to take over the facilities.

“I ran to him (Yar’Adua), I said, ‘You know this is not right’. He said, ‘Well, NNPC said they can do it.’ I said, ‘NNPC cannot do it,’ I told my successor that ‘the refineries, from what I heard and know, will not work and when you want to sell them, you will not get anybody to buy them at $200m as scrap’. And that is the situation we are in,” Obasanjo said.

“So, why do we do this kind of thing to ourselves? NNPC knew that they could not do it, but they knew they could eat and carry on with the corruption that was going on in NNPC. When people were there to do it, they put pressure. In a civilised society, those people should be in jail,” he added.

Reiterating his stance earlier this year, Obasanjo said: “I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2bn have been squandered on the refineries and they still will not work.

“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. If anybody tells you now that it (the refinery) is working, why are they now with Aliko (Dangote)? And Aliko will make his refinery work; not only make it work, he will make it deliver.”
He concluded with a Yoruba proverb, drawing a comparison between overstated promises and reality: “They say that after he has harvested 100 heaps of yams, he will also have 100 heaps of lies. You know what that means.”

Pressure has mounted in recent months for the Federal Government to privatise the NNPC-managed refineries, following repeated breakdowns despite official claims of their revival. The Port Harcourt facility, which reportedly resumed operations late last year, was shut down again within six months. Similarly, the Warri refinery ceased operations just one month after being declared functional in December by former NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and several stakeholders in the energy sector have described the refineries as a financial burden and called for their sale. Some crude oil refiners have even recommended selling them as scrap and redirecting the proceeds to support modular refinery projects.

Despite recurring allocations of public funds, the refineries remain inactive. In 2021 alone, the government approved $1.4 billion for Port Harcourt’s rehabilitation, $897 million for Warri, and $586 million for Kaduna. That same year, N100 billion was spent on refinery maintenance, with a monthly expenditure of N8.33 billion. Additionally, $396.33 million was allocated to turnaround maintenance efforts between 2013 and 2017.

NNPC refineries may never work again – Dangote

(PUNCH)

Related Topics:Dangote Featured NNPC refineries

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Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

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Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

OWERRI — Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has assured Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma that the Dangote Group is prepared to become one of the biggest investors in Imo State, reaffirming the conglomerate’s commitment to expanding its footprint in Nigeria.

Speaking on Thursday during the opening session of the Imo Economic Summit 2025, Dangote called on the state government to specify key sectors requiring investment, promising immediate action once directives are given.

Dangote, who described Governor Uzodimma as a long-time friend, commended him for fostering an enabling environment for business and economic growth in the state.

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“We will be one of your biggest investors in Imo. So please tell me the area to invest and we will invest,” he said.

The African industrialist also encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to focus on developing their home regions, stressing that sustainable economic growth cannot depend on foreign capital alone.

“What attracts foreign investors is a domestic investor. Africa has about 30 percent of the world’s minerals. We are blessed,” he noted.

Dangote further highlighted progress at the Dangote Refinery, announcing that the facility is on track to achieve a 1.4 million barrels-per-day production capacity, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world.

The assurance marks a significant boost for Imo State’s investment outlook as the government continues efforts to strengthen its economy and attract large-scale private sector participation.

Imo Economic Summit: Aliko Dangote Vows to Become State’s Largest Investor

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Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday, upheld a previous Federal High Court judgment prohibiting the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) from confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on motorists without lawful authority.

A three-member panel of appellate justices, led by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, dismissed the appeal filed by the VIO, describing it as lacking merit and affirming the October 16, 2024 ruling of the high court.

The original suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, was filed by public interest lawyer Abubakar Marshal, who alleged that he was unlawfully stopped and had his vehicle confiscated by VIO officials at Jabi District, Abuja, on December 12, 2023. He contended that the action was a violation of his fundamental rights.

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Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court had declared that no law empowers the VIO to stop, seize, impound, or fine motorists, and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the agency and its agents from further violating citizens’ freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property.

The court held that only a court of competent jurisdiction can impose fines or sanctions on motorists. It further ruled that the actions of the Respondents violated Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Although the applicant had sought N500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded him N2.5 million. Respondents included the Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, the Abuja Area Commander, the team leader, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The appellate court’s decision confirms that the VIO and DRTS cannot legally harass motorists, reinforcing citizens’ constitutional rights on the road.

Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Seizing Vehicles or Fining Motorists

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BREAKING: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Trends Admin

BREAKING: CBN Removes Cash Deposit Limits, Raises Weekly Withdrawal

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced sweeping changes to its cash-handling regulations, removing all limits on cash deposits and increasing the weekly cash withdrawal limit across all channels to N500,000, up from N100,000.

The changes were detailed in a circular titled “Revised Cash-Related Policies,” issued to all banks and signed by Dr. Rita Sike, Director of the Financial Policy & Regulation Department.

According to the apex bank, the revised framework is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the rising cost of cash management, strengthen security, and address money laundering concerns linked to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on cash transactions. The CBN noted that previous cash-related policies were introduced to discourage excessive cash usage and promote electronic payment systems, but evolving realities necessitated an update.

Effective January 1, 2026, several major adjustments will take effect. The cash deposit limit has been completely removed, and charges on excess deposits have been scrapped. Weekly withdrawal limits have also been increased to N500,000 for individuals and N5 million for corporate entities, with withdrawals beyond these levels attracting prescribed excess charges.

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The special monthly authorisation, which previously allowed individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once a month, has been discontinued.

For ATM withdrawals, the daily limit remains N100,000 per customer, with a maximum of N500,000 weekly, forming part of the overall withdrawal limit applicable to all channels, including POS transactions.

Excess withdrawals above approved thresholds will attract fees of 3% for individuals and 5% for corporate customers, shared between the CBN and the operating bank in a 40:60 ratio.

Banks have also been instructed to load all currency denominations in ATMs. The cap on over-the-counter encashment of third-party cheques remains fixed at N100,000, and such payments will count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.

Furthermore, financial institutions are required to submit monthly compliance reports to supervisory departments, including the Banking Supervision Department, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, and Payments System Supervision Department.

The circular clarified that revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, as well as accounts held by microfinance and primary mortgage banks, are exempt from the new rules. However, long-standing exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have now been removed.