The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr Bayo Ojulari, has praised the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a critical stabiliser of Nigeria’s energy system, amid the state-owned oil company’s challenges in operating its government-owned refineries and meeting domestic fuel demand.
Ojulari, who spoke during a fireside chat titled“Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future” at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026 on Wednesday in Abuja, said the existence of a functional local refinery provided NNPC with much-needed “breathing space” amid intense pressure to maintain fuel supply continuity.
He said the Dangote Refinery has been a major relief for Nigeria’s fuel supply, urging Nigerians to appreciate its impact regardless of personal views about its owner, noting that the plant’s operations had drawn applause from participants at the event.
“Thank God for Dangote Refinery. Thank God. Whether you love Dangote, you hate him, say whatever you want to say, Nigerians should thank God for Dangote,” Ojulari said, drawing applause from the audience.
According to him, the coming on stream of the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery marked a major relief for Nigeria at a time when legacy state-owned refineries were still struggling to deliver at scale.
Ojulari stressed that beyond capacity, the refinery’s local ownership was equally significant for national energy security.
“Thank God he’s a Nigerian. He’s not someone from another continent or another planet. Despite everything, that gave us an opportunity because we have a refinery that is working,” he said.
While acknowledging that the refinery does not yet meet Nigeria’s full domestic fuel demand, the NNPC boss said its operations have significantly reduced vulnerability in the supply chain.