Aliko Dangote assures Nigerians of zero fuel queues this Christmas & New Year as his refinery hits 50 million litres of petrol daily, ending decades of scarcity.
For the first time in over five decades, Nigerians can look forward to a Christmas and New Year season without the familiar sight of long fuel queues.
Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, gave this assurance on Friday, December 5, 2025, after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents, Dangote declared that the 650,000-barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, is now producing 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily, far above Nigeria’s average daily consumption of about 30–35 million litres.
We have formally notified the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that we have sufficient products. Queues are now history,” he said.
The billionaire businessman described the development as the end of an era that began in 1972 when Nigeria first experienced widespread fuel scarcity despite being a major oil producer. “Even during the recent refinery maintenance period, there were no queues nationwide.
Now that we are in full production, I can confidently tell Nigerians: go and enjoy your Christmas and New Year travels without fear of fuel scarcity.
Dangote added.Beyond domestic supply, the refinery is preparing to export surplus petrol starting February 2026, with 15–20 million litres daily earmarked for neighbouring West African countries. This positions Nigeria to become the refining hub of Africa, reversing decades of exporting crude oil and importing refined products at huge cost.
Dangote also highlighted economic benefits beyond fuel availability. Local plastic and packaging industries will save up to $400 million annually by sourcing petrochemical feedstock from the refinery instead of importing.
Diesel and aviation fuel prices have already dropped significantly since the facility began full operations, proving that local refining brings competition and price stability.
The $20 billion refinery, the world’s largest single-train facility, started petrol production in September 2024 and has progressively ramped up output.
Dangote revealed plans to expand capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, surpassing the current global leader in India. Reacting to criticisms about pricing, Dangote insisted the project was a long-term investment in Nigeria’s self-sufficiency, not a quick-profit venture. Those who can afford private jets should invest in industry, not luxury.
This refinery is my own contribution to lifting Nigeria,” he said.The announcement has been greeted with cautious optimism across the country. Motorists who endured days in queues during past festive seasons expressed relief, while transport unions welcomed the promise of stable supply and lower operational costs.
As Nigerians now hope that effective distribution logistics by marketers and strict monitoring by regulatory agencies will ensure the promise translates from the refinery gates to filling stations nationwide.
If sustained, Dangote’s assurance will mark a historic turning point, ending one of the most persistent economic hardships in Nigeria’s post-independence history.