Dangote Refinery Exports 1.1 billion Litres of PMS in Over 60 Days

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Over 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, have been exported by Dangote Refinery.

The owner of the facility, Mr Aliko Dangote, revealed this to newsmen during a chat with them at an event to mark the first anniversary of the launch of petrol from the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery.

Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki area of Lagos, commenced production on September 3, 2024, and has helped the nation to solve the persistent fuel queues since 1975.

He revealed that between June and first week of September 2025, the facility had exported over 1.1 billion litres of PMS, underscoring its capacity to meet domestic demand and contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings, noting that the refinery has sufficient capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand while also generating foreign exchange through exports.

The businessman described the journey as “challenging because we sought to transform the downstream sector in Nigeria.”

“Some believed we were taking food from their tables, which simply isn’t true. What we have done is to make our country and continent proud. Previously, only two African countries were not importing petrol, but regrettably, they have since resumed imports. This is detrimental to Africa,” he added.

However, he stressed that the inspiration to continue with the project was because of his love for the country, saying he received repeated warnings from industry experts, investors, local and foreign government officials, who argued that only sovereign nations undertook such large-scale refinery ventures, admitting that had the project failed, he would have lost all his assets to lenders.

He reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s industrialisation, describing it as essential for the continent’s development, stressing the urgent need for Nigeria to protect its local industries and discourage the dumping of cheap foreign goods, citing the collapse of the once-thriving textile sector as a cautionary example.

“Other nations were not industrialised by outsiders. We must build and industrialise our own economies. Without this, how can others invest? That is why I believe the National Assembly should enact legislation to support the Federal Government’s ‘Nigeria First’ policy. My goal is to see Africa prosper, as we have the fastest-growing population in the world. Relying on imports means exporting jobs and importing poverty. Many individuals with greater financial resources than myself want to invest, but the challenges we face discourage them. Numerous sectors are still in urgent need of industrialisation,” he said

Mr Dangote reiterated that the refinery remains open to partnerships and collaborations with other stakeholders in the downstream sector, stressing that the industry stands to gain more through collective effort and cooperation.