Aliko Dangote has officially named the main access road leading to his multibillion-dollar refinery in Lagos after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the project as one largely shaped by the President’s early support and consistent backing of private sector-led infrastructure.
The announcement came during the commissioning of the Deep Sea Port Access Road, which links the Dangote Fertiliser Plant to Eleko Junction. Addressing dignitaries and President Tinubu at the event, Dangote made the declaration that drew applause from the audience.
“The Dangote refinery complex is in many ways your brainchild,” he said. “Mr President, let me just say one thing — the main road going into our refinery is now going to be called Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road.”
He went on to hail Tinubu’s leadership, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty. “Mr President, you are a very courageous leader. Please continue the great work you are doing. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Definitely, you should expect more, and you should see more, as this has given us the confidence to do more in supporting your government.”
President Tinubu acknowledged the tribute with a handshake, while guests at the commissioning ceremony broke into applause.
The newly named road forms part of a broader transport corridor developed alongside the refinery, which includes over 500 kilometres of road networks. Two of the roads, according to Dangote, extend into Borno State and are designed to improve access to Chad and Cameroon. The network also links up with key routes like the Sagamu–Benin Expressway and the Epe–Ijebu-Ode corridor, forming a backbone for logistics across southwestern Nigeria.
Earlier in the week, Dangote spoke about the broader impact of the refinery during a separate visit by ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Touray. The refinery, which boasts a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has already begun to affect domestic fuel prices and energy costs across sectors.
“In neighbouring countries, the average price of petrol is around $1 per litre, which is N1,600. But here at our refinery, we’re selling at between N815 and N820,” Dangote stated. “Many Nigerians don’t realise that they are currently paying just 55 per cent of what others in the region are paying for petrol.”
He highlighted how local refining has driven down costs beyond the petrol pump.
“Last year, when we began diesel production, we were able to reduce the price from N1,700 to N1,100 at a go, and as of today, the price has crashed further. This reduction has made a significant impact across various sectors. It has supported industries, benefited those of us in mining, and provided vital relief to the agricultural sector,” Dangote said.
Responding to public doubts about the facility’s ability to meet Nigeria’s needs, Dangote said such scepticism has largely been disproven by results on the ground.
“There have been many claims suggesting that we don’t even produce enough to meet Nigeria’s needs, so how could we possibly supply other West African countries? But now, they are here to see the reality for themselves,” he said, gesturing to the ECOWAS delegation.
Touray, who led the high-level regional team, described the project as a beacon of what African private sector ambition can achieve.
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope, and everybody who doesn’t believe in Africa should come here,” Touray remarked. He commended the refinery’s Euro V standard fuel, noting it aligns with ECOWAS’s target of 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur emissions a level often not met by imported fuel.
“We are still importing products below our standard when a regional company such as Dangote can meet and exceed these requirements,” he added.
Touray also used the visit to advocate for more synergy between governments and industrial players across West Africa. “We cannot continue to make decisions on behalf of the private sector from a distance. Visits like this provide us with first-hand experience and direct insight into the challenges they face,” he said.
As the ECOWAS Commission marks its 50th anniversary, Touray pledged the organisation’s support for companies like the Dangote Group in accessing wider regional markets. “Once again, I congratulate the Dangote Group and commit that the ECOWAS Commission will do everything to open up the ECOWAS market for them, if not the entire African continent,” he said.
The ECOWAS team included top officials such as Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Prof. Nazifi Darma, Commissioner of Internal Services; Dr Tony Elumelu, Director of Private Sector/SME; and Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff to the ECOWAS Commission President.
