Africa’s foremost industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has reiterated his determination to empower to Nigerian engineers, underscoring his unwavering commitment to building local capacity through the execution of large-scale industrial endeavors.
This assurance was given on Monday, May 19, 2025, as Dangote received a high-profile delegation from the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the sprawling Dangote Petroleum Refinery, situated in the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos State.
During the visit, Dangote revealed that the sheer magnitude of the refinery project had surpassed initial projections, a testament to the ambitious vision and relentless execution that characterized its development.
Reflecting on the journey, he remarked, “Honestly, if we had fully understood the magnitude and challenges involved, we may not have even attempted it, but it is because we didn’t know what we were into initially and the courage, or maybe, naivety that got us this far.”
Dangote spoke on the immense operational capacity of the refinery, revealing its design to handle substantial volumes, with an anticipated annual throughput of up to 600 product vessels and approximately 240 crude oil tankers.
He also shed light on the engineering challenges encountered during the construction phase, which included navigating complex swampy terrain, undertaking extensive land clearing operations, and executing a massive dredging project that involved extracting 65 million cubic meters of sand from a distance of 20 kilometers offshore.
Notably, Dangote emphasized that these complex operations were carried out with a conscious effort to mitigate any adverse impact on local fishing communities. In his words, “We had to uproot thousands of trees manually. Sand-filling alone took 18 months but we made a deliberate decision to preserve the livelihoods of those living nearby, especially fishermen.”
During the interaction, an engineer from the NSE delegation inquired about strategies to provide greater opportunities for Nigerian professionals and empower them to take control of their professional destinies. Responding with conviction, Dangote stated, “We appreciate that. There are many more projects coming, and with them, we will continue to develop our engineering base. Even when we don’t have enough jobs to give, we must still train people. Skills are assets — whether they are used here or abroad. We want Nigeria to earn from exporting knowledge, not just oil.”
Highlighting the tangible impact of his commitment to local capacity building, Dangote revealed that despite initial plans to employ up to 50,000 foreign workers for the refinery project, the actual number of expatriate staff employed eventually ranged between only 12,000 and 14,000. He proudly asserted that the majority of the company’s workforce, encompassing crucial roles such as fitters, welders, and engineers, were Nigerians.
“Eighty-five per cent of the commissioning work was done by Nigerians. It is not because I am an engineer, but because they have proven to be among the best. Today, we are our own EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractors. We are building this country ourselves,” He further urged the visiting NSE members to view their visit as a significant step towards aligning with a national aspiration for self-sufficiency and industrial excellence.
The Chairman of the NSE Lagos branch, Engr, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as an “engineering breakthrough for Africa.” She lauded Dangote’s visionary initiative, emphasizing that the refinery stood as the first of its kind on the African continent.
“The NSE exists to ensure continuous professional development, and this visit is part of that goal. We have heard so much about the refinery, but seeing it ourselves has been extraordinary,” She remarked
She further commended the remarkable level of involvement of Nigerian professionals in the refinery’s development and operation, noting that the deployment of local manpower significantly surpassed that of foreign expertise. “If we have more of this kind of development in Nigeria, unemployment and poverty would be in the past. We are extremely proud of what we have seen. Nigerians are taking the lead here,” she said
She emphasized that these types of industrial initiatives would not only serve to resolve domestic challenges but could also strategically position Nigeria as a significant exporter of both refined petroleum products and highly skilled professional expertise.
Following their visit to the refinery, the NSE delegates also undertook a tour of the ambitious Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway project, an infrastructure undertaking of national significance, which they collectively described as “an enormous national asset.”