• Dangote Refinery will create jobs across Africa, says govt
• Togolese president inspects facility

West African governments will only survive economic challenges through public-private sector partnerships, according to President Muhammadu Buhari. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelemah, articulated the position of the president at a facility tour of Dangote Refinery by Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe. Buhari assured Nigerians that Dangote Refinery would create jobs across Africa and resolve Nigeria’s fuel supply issues.

The Nigerian president described the Dangote Refinery project as the best model of partnership between private sector and government.The refinery — already gearing to start operations — is built at the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Nigeria has had a series of disruptions in supply and pricing of the previously regulated premium motor spirit (PMS) in the last 18 months and the government was forced to fix its price at N145, close to $50, per litre.

Buhari commended Dangote for being not only Nigeria’s champion but also that of Africa with his massive investments and re-investments that create jobs and grow economies.“We need champions and Dangote is a Nigerian champion; he is an African champion; he is also a role model. We need many examples and with the repositioning that the Federal Government is doing, we are going to see many more examples,” Buhari said.

To Togoleswe President lauded Dangote’s investment drive across the African continent, describing him as a man with a mission to aggressively transform the African economy.He said Dangote is a worthy son of Africa who has chosen to buoy the economic activities of the continent with his investments.

“Aliko Dangote is our pride in Africa and his aggressive investment drive towards developing the economies of the continent should be lauded,” he said.On his part, Dangote commended President Gnassingbe for finding out time to inspect the refinery, adding that he was happy with the interest and encouragement being received over the project.

Apart from the refinery, there is also a petrochemical, fertiliser and gas plant with a daily production capacity of three billion cubic feet of gas, which is being developed by the Dangote Group, all in one location.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the siting of the world’s largest single-line refinery in Lagos reinforced the state’s position as prime investment destination. He added that the project would positively change the face of oil and gas business in the West African sub-region.

“This investment (Dangote Refinery) is one of the biggest in Africa today and will have a huge impact on the economy of not only Nigeria but also the whole of West African region.“This refinery, when completed, will be the largest single line refinery anywhere in the world refining 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

“Apart from creating jobs, this refinery will contribute immensely to solving the fuel supply challenge in the West African region,” Ambode said.Commending Dangote for his vision, doggedness and unwavering desire to contribute positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy, as well as his confidence in the Lagos economy, the governor said that the project was one of the emerging opportunities in the state.

Eminent personalities who participated in the facility tour included former governors of Ogun (Segun Osoba), Ekiti (Niyi Adebayo) and Cross River (Donald Duke), billionaire businessman and Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola and members of the Lagos State Executive Council.