Buy Only Made-in-Nigerian Goods to Create Jobs – Dangote Tells Nigerians

…as Reno Omokri says Dangote Refinery is “up to tomorrow”

President of Dangote Refinery, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has urged Nigerians to patronize only made-in-Nigerian goods and services to grow the nation’s economy and create jobs. He emphasized that economic growth and national strength depend on supporting local products.

Speaking during a media tour of the refinery led by Reno Omokri, a former presidential spokesperson and advocate of the #GrowNairaBuyNaija campaign, Dangote said:

“I want to encourage all Nigerians to buy only made in Nigeria. When you buy anything made in Nigeria, you are helping to create jobs. The only way for us to be a stronger nation is to patronize ourselves so that we can encourage prosperity and employment.”

Omokri described the Dangote Refinery as “not up to date, but up to tomorrow,” saying it represents the future of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation.

According to him, in just one year of operation, the refinery has recorded over 650 maritime exports, with 60% going to the United States and the rest to Brazil, Argentina, and other nations. He noted that Dangote built private port terminals equipped with modern roll-on/roll-off facilities to avoid congestion in public ports.

“Nothing prepares you for the size of what Alhaji Aliko Dangote has done for Nigeria,” Omokri said. “He has transformed the Lekki Free Trade Zone into West Africa’s most valuable commercial hub.”

He revealed that the refinery operates nearly 100 massive tanks, each capable of holding up to 120 million litres, and converts every barrel of crude oil into at least twelve refined products. It also produces Euro 6-standard petrol and diesel, which surpass global environmental standards.

Omokri praised the refinery’s employment of Nigerian youths, noting that the workforce is ethnically diverse and includes many women — with about 60% female staff in the Central Laboratory. He added that the refinery generates 500 megawatts of electricity, while its fertilizer plant contributes another 150 MW, accounting for roughly 10% of Nigeria’s total power generation.

“The Dangote Refinery maintains excellent relations with its host community,” he said. “They built roads, offer hundreds of scholarships, and recycle waste to protect the local fishing environment.”

Omokri described the refinery’s Control Room as “out of this world,” featuring giant screens that monitor every part of the facility in real time.

Meanwhile, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, Vice President, Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, disclosed that the refinery has faced 22 attempted sabotage incidents since operations began but successfully prevented all due to advanced hazard-control systems.

He dismissed rumours of operational challenges, saying the refinery holds over 312 million litres of petrol in storage and can meet Nigeria’s total demand for PMS, diesel, and aviation fuel while exporting half of its production.

“This refinery produces about 94% light products, far better than older Nigerian refineries,” Edwin said.