Fuel concerns at the Dangote Refinery scaled down to ‘fake news’

The panic surrounding the closure of the petrol unit in the Dangote Oil Refinery has been quelled by the organization.

• The Dangote Oil Refinery addressed concerns regarding alleged damages in its petrol unit, dismissing them as baseless rumors.
• Reports suggested potential damages prompting closures of up to two months, which the Dangote Group refuted with skepticism.
• Since its inauguration, the Dangote Refinery has significantly reduced Nigeria’s energy import dependence.
• The refinery has also commenced notable exports, signaling its impact on both local and international markets.

The Dangote Refinery recently addressed the rumors that it might have to suspend production of gasoline due to damage to the refinery, which surfaced last week.

Anthony Chiejina, the spokesman of the Dangote Group, simply described the reports as “fake.”

Initial accounts indicated that there had been catalyst leaks and other problems in the refinery’s gasoline unit, prompting projections of a 2-week closure.

Later reports inflated those projections, disclosing that the petrol unit of the refinery could be shut down for as much as 2 months.

However, the Dangote spokesman questioned the credibility of said reports, pointing out the use of language.

“Fake news. Why ‘could’ if they are sure?” Chiejina revealed to The Punch when he was contacted for a response on Sunday.

Dangote’s market impact

Since the inauguration of the refinery, Nigeria’s energy dependence has been cut down significantly.

From initially supplying jet fuel and other petroleum products to eventually meeting a huge chunk of Nigeria’s energy needs through the domestic supply of petrol, the Dangote refinery has been revolutionary for West Africa’s largest market.

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Additionally, the refinery has begun leaving an imprint on several international markets.

According to Aliko Dangote, the CEO of the Dangote oil refinery, the refinery exported around one million tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in June and July 2025.

Nigeria’s gasoline imports declined drastically, from 500,000 barrels per day in early 2023 to barely 88,000 by the first quarter of 2025, putting an end to its status as Africa’s largest petrol importer.

According to current CITAC analysis, this shift is obviously tied to Dangote’s ramp-up, with Nigeria’s 2025 imports expected to be only 6.4 million tonnes.