Dangote Refinery Expansion to Create 95,000 Jobs

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for about 95,000 skilled workers at peak construction.

Speaking in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Dangote described the project as a milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

“This award is particularly meaningful because it recognises what we are doing in the industry, especially our commitment to employing engineers and skilled professionals.

At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect to have about 95,000 skilled workers on site,” he said.

Upon completion, the expanded refinery will surpass India’s Jamnagar refinery, becoming the largest in the world, significantly boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity.

Dangote stressed that the project would rely heavily on Nigerian expertise, creating opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other professionals, while reflecting the group’s long-term vision for industrialisation across Africa.

Beyond jobs, the expansion is expected to stimulate local manufacturing, enhance technology transfer, and deepen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain. It will also improve fuel security, reduce dependence on imports, and save foreign exchange.

“The scale of this expansion reflects our confidence in Nigerian capacity and our belief that Africa can build world-class infrastructure that meets global standards,” Dangote said.

Prof. Rahamon Bello, President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, praised the recognition, saying Dangote’s impact goes beyond infrastructure. “What makes this recognition fitting is not only what has been built but also what has been inspired,” he noted.