Nigeria's Dangote Refinery has reached its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in October 2026, marking a historic shift for Africa's largest oil producer.
The refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos, is the largest single-train refinery in the world and is now supplying 100 percent of Nigeria's petrol needs, plus exporting to Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and Europe.
For decades, Nigeria exported crude oil and imported refined fuel, spending $10 billion annually on imports. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) confirmed last week that it has stopped petrol imports completely.
Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, said the refinery has created over 30,000 direct jobs and will save Nigeria $12 billion in foreign exchange yearly. Fuel queues, which plagued Port Harcourt and Lagos for years, have now disappeared.
Fuel price has dropped from N1,200 per litre in early 2025 to N850 per litre in October 2026. Marketers in Rivers State and Abuja confirm stable supply.
The government is now planning to use savings to fund education and healthcare. Experts say the refinery proves Africa can industrialize and add value to raw materials instead of exporting them cheaply.
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