AU’s Chambas says Dangote Refinery can propel Africa out of poverty

Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union’s High Representative for Silencing the Guns, has hailed the Dangote Refinery as a transformative project that will drive Africa towards poverty eradication. Speaking during a recent visit to the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, Chambas highlighted the refinery’s immense potential to revolutionise the continent’s economy.

Describing the refinery as a shining example of African entrepreneurship, Chambas noted that the project reflects Aliko Dangote’s visionary leadership and Nigeria’s capacity for large-scale industrial innovation.

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He stated, “These are the types of transformational projects that would propel Africa out of poverty. Projects like the Dangote Refinery create jobs, have multiplier effects on the national and regional economies, and provide cheaper and reliable fuel for transportation, agriculture, and industries. In short, they lubricate the real economy.

“The Dangote Group is leading the way for the private sector in Africa which has a pivotal role to play in the fight against poverty and in creating opportunities for the youth. This is a veritable pathway to silencing the guns.”

Chambas further emphasised the ripple effects that the refinery would have across Africa, noting its critical role in driving industrial growth, agriculture, and transportation. He praised Dangote’s “business acumen, courage, tenacity, and vision matched with action” in successfully bringing such a monumental project to completion, cementing his status as a true leader of Africa’s private sector.

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According to Chambas, private sector-driven initiatives like the Dangote Refinery are key to creating opportunities for Africa’s youth and reducing poverty across the continent. “This is a veritable pathway to silencing the guns,” he said, alluding to the AU’s broader goal of addressing instability and conflict through economic empowerment.

Chambas also commended President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support in ensuring a consistent supply of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery, describing the President’s actions as vital to the project’s long-term success. “As a successful entrepreneur himself, Tinubu understands the challenges and has demonstrated a commitment to creating an enabling business environment,” Chambas added.

Encouraging Africans across the continent and the diaspora to visit the refinery, Chambas concluded by asserting that the Dangote Refinery symbolises hope for a brighter future, not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.