Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Refinery, praised the performance of Nigerian engineers who helped construct the company’s 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day plant. He said the Nigerian engineers outperformed their Indian counterparts in building the $20 billion refinery, a claim he made during a recent media briefing in which he also highlighted the firm’s contribution to job creation in Nigeria.
The engineers’ exceptional work has opened new opportunities, with 18 of them being recruited as expatriates in Qatar. Dangote stressed that job creation remains a major challenge for his company and expressed pride that Nigerian engineers played a crucial role in the refinery’s construction, demonstrating their capabilities and potential.
Dangote also announced that the majority of engineers working on the company’s new fertilizer plant will be Nigerians. This decision is expected to generate additional employment for local engineers and support the country’s economic growth. The fertilizer plant is a significant project, and the involvement of Nigerian engineers underscores Dangote’s commitment to nurturing local talent.
These comments come amid a dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which accused the company of anti‑labour practices by hiring drivers for its compressed natural gas trucks without proper procedures. The Dangote Group has denied the allegations and reaffirmed its commitment to fair labour practices.
Dangote Refinery began rolling out fuel products in September of last year and has since announced a petrol distribution scheme. While the venture into fuel distribution has faced some resistance from downstream oil‑sector stakeholders, Dangote remains committed, citing its potential benefits for the country.
The success of Nigerian engineers in constructing the refinery’s plant is a notable achievement that highlights the capabilities of local talent in the industry. As the company advances with new projects, including the fertilizer plant, it is likely to continue creating jobs and driving economic growth in Nigeria.
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