The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has said Nigerians have strong reasons to appreciate the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a critical support to the nation’s oil and gas industry.
Ojulari made the remarks on Wednesday at the International Energy Summit 2026 in Abuja, noting that the 650,000 barrels-per-day facility has helped reduce pressure on Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
He explained that the current leadership of NNPCL has chosen to work closely with the privately owned refinery, opting for partnership rather than rivalry. According to him, although the plant has not yet fully satisfied local fuel demand, its operations have played a key role in limiting Nigeria’s vulnerability to supply shocks.
Ojulari told participants that regardless of personal opinions about the refinery’s owner, Nigerians should appreciate the value the facility brings to the country, especially as it is locally owned and operational.
He added that while the refinery does not yet cover total national needs, it has created some relief in the system and provides strategic advantage, noting that NNPCL also holds equity in the project.
The NNPCL chief further emphasised that collaboration with the Dangote Refinery remains a core part of the company’s strategy to deliver maximum benefit to Nigerians.
His comments come against the backdrop of a recent hike in fuel prices across the country, following increases in ex-depot prices by the Dangote Refinery and other depot operators, which have pushed petrol prices in Abuja to between N839 and N905 per liter.
