Igali Describes Dangote Refinery as Strategic National Asset, Urges FG to Prioritize Crude Supply

Igali Describes Dangote Refinery as Strategic National Asset, Urges FG to Prioritize Crude Supply

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National President of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, has called on the Federal Government to accord special protection and support to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing it as a “strategic national asset” critical to Nigeria’s industrial future.

Amb. Igali made the call while commending the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his insightful contributions during a recent appearance on the African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Focus Nigeria.

According to the former diplomat, the $20 billion refinery represents more than a private investment—it embodies the future of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation.

“The Dangote Refinery is not just a private enterprise; it is a strategic national asset,” Igali stated. “The magnitude of jobs it creates, the technological advancement it represents, and the pivot it offers from a raw material export economy to a value-added industrial one are of immense national importance.”

He noted that the refinery’s capacity to meet domestic fuel needs and supply international markets underscores its significance to Nigeria’s economic stability and Africa’s industrial progress.

Emphasizing the need for prudent management of natural resources, Igali said Africa’s global relevance depends on its ability to process and add value to its raw materials locally.

“Africa can only remain relevant on the global stage to the extent that we protect, process, and add value to our natural resources within our shores. Allowing the Dangote Refinery to thrive is a definitive step in that direction,” he added.

To ensure the sustainability of such large-scale investments, Amb. Igali urged the Federal Government to adopt a policy that guarantees consistent and prioritized crude oil supply to domestic refiners, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

“It is counter-intuitive and economically disadvantageous to continue exporting crude while a refinery of such capacity is starved of its primary raw material. Nigerian crude must be made available to Nigerian refineries as a matter of national priority,” he said.

He further stressed that prioritizing the success of indigenous investors like Dangote was essential to the continent’s economic future.

“This is the only pathway for Nigeria and Africa to rise industrially, build resilient economies, and compete globally. Protecting investors like Dangote is synonymous with protecting our national economic destiny,” Igali concluded.