A fire has broken out at the Dangote Refinery, causing significant concern in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State. Explosions were reportedly heard on Wednesday following the outbreak.
As of now, the Dangote Group has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
This development follows recent comments by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who revealed the intense challenges he faced in establishing the $19 billion refinery. Dangote spoke about overcoming significant opposition from both local and international interests in the oil sector, describing them as more formidable than those involved in drug trafficking.
Dangote shared these insights during the Afreximbank annual meeting and AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum in the Bahamas, highlighting the unexpected level of resistance encountered during the refinery’s development.
In related news, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South recently expressed optimism that the Dangote refinery will contribute to lowering the pump price of petroleum products. Ubah noted that with Nigerian refineries operating at full capacity, fuel prices are expected to decrease.