From left: Group Chief Brand & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina; Head of Economic Scheduling and Planning (EPS), Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Lindelani Zondi; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, David Bird, during a press conference on the state of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Dangote Refinery Reaffirms Commitment to Euro-Standard Fuel for Nigerians
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) has dismissed claims that it imports finished petroleum products, describing such reports as misleading and rooted in a poor understanding of how modern refineries operate globally.
The refinery explained that as a world-class, large-scale merchant refinery, DPRP processes crude oil and intermediate feedstocks into high-quality petroleum products and petrochemicals that meet strict international standards. This practice, it noted, is common across the global refining industry and should not be confused with importing finished fuel.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Lekki facility, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, clarified that the use of intermediate or semi-processed materials is a standard part of refining worldwide. According to him, these materials are not finished fuels and are never sold directly to consumers.
Bird noted that the Dangote Refinery operates on a European and Asian merchant refinery model, combining advanced refining, blending and trading systems to meet today’s quality, safety and environmental requirements.
“Our fuels meet international environmental and health benchmarks,” Bird said. “The petrol we produce is lead-free and MMT-free, with sulphur levels at 50 parts per million, while our diesel meets ultra-low sulphur standards. These specifications help cut emissions, protect vehicle engines and improve public health.”
He stressed that only fully refined, market-ready products leave the refinery, adding that semi-finished fuels are unsuitable for vehicles and are therefore not released into the Nigerian market. To reinforce this point, journalists at the briefing were shown samples of both intermediate feedstocks and completed products.
According to Bird, the refinery was built to put an end to Nigeria’s long exposure to substandard fuels by supplying products that meet the most stringent global standards. He added that the quality of DPRP’s output is reflected in its growing exports to international markets.
He explained that intermediate materials such as naphtha, straight-run gas oil, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate and isomerate are essential inputs used in further processing to produce finished fuels like petrol and diesel, as well as petrochemicals.
Bird also reaffirmed the refinery’s commitment to openness and regulatory compliance, calling on the media to help educate the public on the clear difference between intermediate products and finished fuel.
“It is disappointing that some people are deliberately pushing false narratives about a refinery that has helped transform Nigeria and West Africa from a dumping ground for substandard fuel into a centre for high-quality petroleum products,” he said.
He added that the refinery’s flexible configuration allows it to process a wide range of crude oils and intermediate feedstocks into premium finished products.
Bird assured Nigerians of continued and reliable fuel supply, noting that the refinery has played a key role in easing fuel shortages, supporting naira stability and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
Also speaking, the Group Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, urged journalists to use accurate terminology in their reports, warning that imprecise language could mislead the public and trigger unnecessary concern.
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