Nigeria’s Dangote mega-refinery has begun exporting fuel to several African countries as global oil prices continue to climb sharply in the wake of escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The three-week-old war has disrupted crude shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, forcing nations to scramble for alternative supplies and brace for higher energy costs.
In a statement released late Sunday, the Dangote Refinery — owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote — confirmed it had exported 12 cargoes totalling 456,000 tonnes to Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana and Togo.
Located on the eastern flank of Lagos, the 650,000-barrels-per-day facility said its production capacity enables it “to not only meet but exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel demands”.
“By supplying neighbouring and other economies, the Dangote Refinery is expected to contribute significantly to energy security across West, East and Central Africa,” the company added.
A refinery spokesperson told AFP that the uptick in export demand is directly linked to the Middle East conflict, noting that requests have also come from outside the continent, particularly for jet fuel. He declined to provide further details.
Back home, Nigerians are feeling the pinch of rising pump prices. Petrol now sells for over ₦1,300 per litre in parts of Lagos, up from ₦830, reflecting the global supply disruptions.
At the onset of the crisis, Dangote had assured that the domestic market would remain a priority to cushion the impact of potential shortages and price shocks.
Before the refinery came onstream in 2024, Nigeria — despite being Africa’s top oil producer — relied almost entirely on imported fuel, frequently grappling with supply shortfalls and recurring scarcity.
