The federal government has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, pledging deeper collaboration with the private sector to accelerate industrialisation, job creation and economic transformation.

Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, made the declaration on Wednesday after leading a high-level delegation from the ministry on an extensive tour of the 700,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Petrochemicals complex and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Lagos.

The minister described the integrated industrial complex as one of the most significant investments in Africa and a model for the type of industrial development required to drive Nigeria’s economic growth aspirations.

According to Mr Enoh, the visit further reinforced the central role of large-scale manufacturing in the successful implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy, unveiled earlier this year.

“You cannot be minister in charge of Industry and not visit the Dangote Refinery,” Mr Enoh stated. “This facility matters because of what it represents for Nigerian industry, for our people and for the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a one trillion-dollar economy.”

He said the refinery has emerged as a powerful symbol of value addition, industrial competitiveness and Nigeria’s growing manufacturing capability.

“The more a country adds value to its products, the more respect it earns globally. The Dangote Refinery stands today as one of the strongest demonstrations of that principle,” he said.

The minister noted that the refinery has fundamentally changed global perceptions of Nigeria by helping to transform the country from a major importer of refined petroleum products into an exporter serving international markets.

“When global supply disruptions occurred, Nigeria was able to export petroleum products to markets in the Middle East and beyond. That is an extraordinary achievement and one that deserves recognition,” he added.

Mr Enoh, who was accompanied by directors, regulators and heads of agencies under the ministry, said the delegation gained a deeper appreciation of the scale, technological sophistication and strategic importance of the facilities.

“I brought members of my team here because I wanted them to see firsthand what this investment represents. It has been a humbling and enlightening experience,” stated the minister. “We leave with greater knowledge and an even stronger commitment to supporting industrial development in Nigeria.”

He also dismissed concerns over the refinery’s single-train configuration, noting that operations remained uninterrupted even during maintenance activities.

“The issues surrounding the single-train configuration are much clearer now. Even during scheduled maintenance, operations continued,” he said.

Mr Enoh pledged that the ministry and its agencies would remain strong advocates of the refinery and the broader industrialisation agenda, adding that the government would continue to engage Dangote Industries Limited through the Industrial Revolution Work Group and ministerial roundtables to address challenges facing manufacturers, particularly access to affordable long-term financing.

He further commended the president and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, for supporting the launch of the Nigeria Industrial Policy, describing him as “Nigeria’s foremost industrialist” whose contributions would be vital to achieving the country’s manufacturing targets.

The policy aims to increase manufacturing’s contribution to Nigeria’s gross domestic product to approximately 20 per cent by 2030 and 25 per cent by 2035.

“We want to be judged by the extent to which we implement this policy. Achieving these targets will require a strong partnership between government and industry leaders like Aliko Dangote,” Mr Enoh stated.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Dangote urged the government to place industrialisation at the centre of its economic strategy, insisting that no nation has attained prosperity without a strong manufacturing base.

“There is no way to create jobs and prosperity without industrialisation,” Mr Dangote said. “The greatest attraction for foreign investors is the success of domestic investors. When local investors thrive, they send a powerful signal that the environment is conducive for investment.”

The industrialist revealed that Dangote Industries recently raised an unsecured and unrated bond at rates below Nigeria’s sovereign benchmark, demonstrating growing investor confidence in credible Nigerian private-sector institutions.

According to him, the successful fundraising underscores the ability of Nigerian companies to mobilise long-term capital when supported by stable and predictable government policies.

Mr Dangote also praised Mr Enoh’s dedication to industrial development.

“We have worked with many ministers of industry over the years, but I can confidently say that his commitment is exceptional. His ministry will play a critical role in attracting investment, creating jobs and driving the president’s one trillion-dollar economy agenda,” Mr Dangote explained.

He restated that policy consistency remains the most important factor in attracting investment, stressing that frequent policy reversals undermine investor confidence more than the absence of incentives.

Reflecting on the refinery project, Mr Dangote described it as the biggest business risk of his life, recalling how many financiers doubted the project would ever be completed.

Despite challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and foreign exchange volatility to scepticism from lenders, he said the successful delivery of the refinery demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs to execute projects of global significance.

“What we have achieved here has never been done before on this scale. Once one person succeeds, many others will be encouraged to follow,” he said.

Mr Dangote disclosed that the refinery, at full capacity, will account for the equivalent of about 10 per cent of the United States’ refining capacity and consume approximately 2.5 per cent of globally traded crude oil. He urged the government to continue supporting indigenous investors, describing them as the country’s most important drivers of employment, foreign exchange generation and long-term economic resilience.

“If Nigeria is to achieve sustainable growth and become a trillion-dollar economy, industrialisation must be the foundation. Indigenous investors remain the strongest catalysts for that transformation,” Mr Dangote stated.