The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a critical stabiliser of Nigeria’s energy system, amid ongoing struggles by government-owned refineries to operate optimally and meet domestic fuel demand.
Naija News reports that Ojulari made the remarks on Wednesday during a fireside chat titled “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future” at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026 held in Abuja.
According to the NNPC boss, the existence of a functional local refinery has provided the national oil company with much-needed relief as it battles to ensure continuity of fuel supply across the country.
He urged Nigerians to appreciate the impact of the refinery, regardless of personal opinions about its owner, noting that the plant’s performance had attracted applause from participants at the summit.
“Thank God for Dangote Refinery. Thank God. Whether you love Dangote, you hate him, say whatever you want to say, Nigerians should thank God for Dangote,” Ojulari said, drawing applause from the audience.
Ojulari said the coming on stream of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery came at a critical time when Nigeria’s legacy state-owned refineries were still struggling to deliver refined products at scale.
He stressed that the refinery’s contribution has helped reduce pressure on NNPC and limited Nigeria’s exposure to supply disruptions.
“Yes, it may not meet our full needs, but it gives us a breathing space. And luckily, we are shareholders in that refinery as well,” he noted.
‘Thank God He’s a Nigerian’
Beyond its production capacity, Ojulari said the local ownership of the refinery was significant for Nigeria’s energy security.
“Thank God he’s a Nigerian. He’s not someone from another continent or another planet. Despite everything, that gave us an opportunity because we have a refinery that is working,” he said.
According to him, while the plant does not yet meet Nigeria’s entire fuel demand, its operations have significantly reduced vulnerabilities in the country’s fuel supply chain.
Ojulari’s comments signal a notable shift from years of strained relations between NNPC and the Dangote Group, which had previously clashed over issues including crude oil supply terms, regulatory approvals, pricing and concerns about market dominance.
Under previous leadership, the relationship was often marked by public disagreements, with Dangote accusing state institutions of frustrating the refinery project, while regulators maintained they were enforcing market and quality standards.
The NNPC chief said the current leadership has adopted a more pragmatic approach focused on collaboration rather than confrontation.
“So we said, what’s the hurry? We have a refinery that is working. It’s not owned by NNPC, but it’s a Nigerian refinery, built in Nigeria, working in Nigeria,” he said.
Ojulari disclosed that NNPC has since engaged directly with Alhaji Aliko Dangote to establish a framework for cooperation in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
“Our strategy is to collaborate with the Dangote Refinery and maximise the value delivered to Nigerians. That was our first strategy. We had a meeting with Alhaji Dangote, explained our institutional responsibilities, and we agreed on the pathway towards deeper collaboration while maintaining our role as NNPC,” the NNPCL Boss explained.