Aliko Dangote, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, clarified on Saturday that his $20 billion refinery at the Lekki Free Trade Zone did not receive any incentives from the Federal Government.
During a meeting with the House of Representatives leadership, including Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Dangote asserted, “For the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, receive a single incentive from either the Federal Government or Lagos State. Although Lagos State provided favorable terms, we paid $100 million for the land; it was not provided for free.”
Dangote also expressed his confidence in the support from the majority and reaffirmed his commitment to the project.
Moreover, Dangote addressed allegations regarding the quality of diesel and petrol produced by his refinery, firmly countering claims that the products are substandard. He called for a thorough investigation by the House into the quality of diesel and petrol sold at filling stations nationwide. Dangote urged the establishment of a committee to test petroleum products across the country, aiming to address the damage caused to vehicles and engines by inferior products.
The Dangote refinery, one of the largest in Africa, is seen as a pivotal project for Nigeria’s economy, promising to significantly reduce the nation’s dependency on imported fuel and create thousands of jobs. Despite its scale and importance, Dangote’s statement emphasizes that the project was undertaken without any financial incentives from the government, underscoring the company’s commitment to independent and sustainable development.
