The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the planned expansion of the Dangote Refinery to 1.4 million barrels per day will generate about 95,000 jobs at the peak of construction.
Dangote disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a major step in Nigeria’s industrial development.
He said the expansion would significantly boost employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans and other skilled workers, while reinforcing the company’s commitment to economic growth.
“At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect to have about 95,000 skilled workers on site, and we will continue to grow,” Dangote said.
He explained that upon completion, the refinery would surpass the Jamnagar Refinery to become the largest in the world, strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity and reducing reliance on imported petroleum products.
Dangote noted that the project would largely depend on local expertise, creating opportunities for Nigerian professionals and contributing to knowledge transfer within the oil and gas sector.
He added that the expansion aligns with the group’s long-term vision of industrialisation across Nigeria and Africa, while also improving fuel security and conserving foreign exchange.
“The scale of this expansion reflects our confidence in Nigerian capacity and our belief that Africa can build world-class infrastructure,” he said.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Rahamon Bello, described the recognition as well deserved, noting that Dangote’s contributions extend beyond infrastructure to inspiring innovation and enterprise.
He said Dangote’s achievements continue to motivate a new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs to pursue ambitious goals.
The refinery, which currently has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is expected to be scaled up over the next three years as part of the expansion plan.