Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed shocking details about the setbacks that plagued his $20 billion refinery project, blaming a prominent—but unnamed—company for deliberately supplying faulty equipment that stalled progress for two years.
Speaking today at the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets, Dangote said:
“We bought over 2,700 hectares of land—seven times the size of Victoria Island in Lagos—for the refinery. But one prominent company, which I should not name, supplied us with faulty equipment. I believe it was intentional.”
The revelation sparked murmurs across the hall, as industry leaders digested the implications of sabotage at such a monumental scale. Dangote’s refinery, touted as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy independence, has faced several delays—now linked directly to the compromised machinery.
Though Dangote refrained from naming the company, his comment ignited speculations across the oil and gas sector. The refinery, now nearing full operational capacity, is expected to drastically reduce Nigeria’s dependency on imported refined petroleum products.
The industrial titan’s rare candidness marks a turning point in the transparency around Nigeria’s refining ambitions and could prompt investigations—or at the very least, uncomfortable boardroom meetings—in companies previously contracted for the project.
This development comes as Dangote continues to push for economic self-sufficiency in the West African energy landscape.
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