Crude oil deliveries from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery doubled in March, raising hopes of improved fuel availability.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, at the company’s industrial complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Speaking on feedstock supply, Dangote commended the NNPC for increasing crude allocations to the refinery, noting that deliveries rose to 10 cargoes in March, six priced in naira and four in dollars.
“Last month, they gave us six cargoes in naira and four in dollars,” he said.
Despite the increase, Dangote said supply remains below the 19 cargoes required for optimal operations, forcing the refinery to rely on imports from the United States and other African producers to bridge the gap.
He also raised concerns over the reluctance of international oil companies operating in Nigeria to sell crude directly to the refinery, noting that their preference for trading intermediaries compels the company to buy at higher prices, with wider economic implications.
Dangote added that the refinery is seeking greater access to domestically priced crude under local currency arrangements to help moderate fuel costs and strengthen long-term energy and food security.
On her part, Amina Mohammed highlighted the strategic role of Dangote Industries, particularly its fertiliser operations in addressing Africa’s growing food security challenges. She called for stronger global partnerships to scale such initiatives.
“I think the UN’s role is to amplify and highlight solutions that can help mitigate the food security crisis, and this is one of them,” she said. “We hope to continue engaging partners and countries that can collaborate with Dangote Industries.”
Her remarks come amid rising concerns over food shortages and supply chain disruptions across Africa, driven by global economic pressures, climate shocks, and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East.
Dangote said the group has ramped up exports of urea and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to African markets affected by supply disruptions linked to the crisis.
“The challenges are many. One is urea, which we produce. In recent days, we’ve increasingly supplied African countries, something we were not doing before,” he said. “We are also expanding shipments of petroleum products across the continent.”
He added that the refinery has exported about 17 cargoes of petrol to African countries, leveraging its 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity to help stabilise supply.
“What I can do is assure Nigerians, and indeed much of West, Central and East Africa, that we have the capacity to supply them,” Dangote said.
