The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has called on Nigerians to be grateful for the positive influence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on the nation’s energy landscape, describing it as a critical stabiliser amid persistent challenges faced by state-owned refineries.
Ojulari delivered the message on Wednesday during a high-profile fireside chat themed “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future” at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026 in Abuja, urging citizens to look past personal opinions about the refinery’s owner and recognise its contribution to the country’s fuel supply.
“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 to rounds of applause from the audience, emphasizing the relief the facility has provided to the national petroleum sector.
In his address, the NNPC chief underscored the significance of the refinery’s operational status, noting that its ability to process 650,000 barrels per day has offered the national oil company much-needed “breathing space” as it continues to grapple with difficulties in running Nigeria’s legacy government-owned refineries.
Ojulari acknowledged that while the Dangote facility has not fully met the country’s entire domestic fuel requirements, its output has nonetheless reduced vulnerability within the supply chain. “Yes, it may not meet our full needs, but it gives us a breathing space. And luckily, we are shareholders in that refinery as well,” he said, highlighting NNPC’s stake in the refinery’s operations.
The NNPC boss also drew attention to the importance of local ownership in strengthening 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,” Ojulari added, stressing that the plant’s functioning status has fundamental implications for Nigeria’s ability to stabilise its energy supply without total reliance on imports.
Ojulari’s remarks signalled a notable shift in tone from previous years of strained relations between NNPC and Dangote Group, which were marked by disagreements over crude allocation terms, regulatory issues, pricing, and concerns about market dominance. Past interactions between the entities at times saw public friction, with the refinery’s backers accusing regulatory institutions of delaying approvals and complicating operations.
According to Ojulari, the current leadership at NNPC has embraced a more cooperative approach. “So we said, what’s the hurry? We have a refinery that is working. It’s not owned by NNPC, but it’s a Nigerian refinery, built in Nigeria, working in Nigeria,” he said, stressing pragmatism over confrontation.
He disclosed that NNPC has held direct talks with Alhaji Dangote to establish a formal framework for collaboration in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), aiming to “maximise the value delivered to Nigerians.” “That was our first strategy. We had a meeting with Alhaji Dangote, explained our institutional responsibilities, and we agreed on the pathway towards deeper collaboration while maintaining our role as NNPC,” Ojulari explained, affirming a partnership-oriented path forward.
The summit discussion underscored the evolving dynamics in Nigeria’s petroleum sector at a time when local refining capacity is increasingly viewed as central to reducing dependence on fuel imports and shoring up energy independence.
