Buhari arrives commissioning of Dangote Refinery

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived for the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.

The president will be joined by five other African leaders including; President Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic, and President Mahamat Déby of Chad.

Others are President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who will deliver a goodwill message virtually, amongst other hosts of ambassadors.

In a statement on Sunday, May 21, Sanford Group in a statement said the historic event will be graced by the 36 governors of Nigeria, most of the governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria and outside.

The company added that global oil traders, top international bankers, and international multilateral agencies “have indicated their readiness to grace the ceremony”.

“In an epoch-making event that will positively transform Nigeria’s oil and gas sectoral landscape, President Muhammadu Buhari will today commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single train refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, alongside his counterparts from Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Niger, and Chad,” the statement reads.

“Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), is sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will employ over 100,000 persons.

“The coming onstream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil-rich nations which are heavy importers of petroleum products.

“Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the refinery is located, is expected to be at the event.

“The commissioning of Dangote petroleum refinery is significant given that it is the first time that a refinery of such magnitude built by an individual is being commissioned.”