Dangote refinery says it has identified individuals promoting claims that refiner import petrol

The Dangote refinery says it has identified the individuals responsible for promoting the misleading narrative that it imports petrol into Nigeria.

On February 4, David Bird, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote refinery, said the refinery is only importing intermediate feedstock, not petroleum products.

In a statement on Monday, the refinery said it will reveal the identities and motives of those spreading the claim at the appropriate time.

“This propaganda is being promoted by unpatriotic and unscrupulous individuals who cannot afford to see Nigeria stop imports — individuals who helped to milk the NNPC refineries through fraudulent financing transactions for refinery repairs, which ended up being squandered. These individuals will soon have their day in court,” the statement reads.

Dangote refinery said it issued the clarification in response to recent publications attributed to an international intelligence firm.

The refinery said the reports misrepresent its operations and create a misleading picture of Nigeria’s refining landscape.

The company said it categorically refutes claims, “amplified through certain newspaper adverts on Monday, February 9, 2026, suggesting that it imports finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country”.

According to Dangote refinery, the misinformation was “appropriately addressed during an S&P Global forum held today in the United Kingdom”.

Following the clarification, the plant said the forum “acknowledged the refinery’s pivotal role” in reshaping the global refining landscape.

According to the statement, the refinery does not import petrol into Nigeria and that “it is only pursuing alternative feedstocks to improve its secondary-unit utilisation”.

Dangote refinery described the claims as inaccurate and deceptive, saying that as a merchant refinery operating in line with global best practices, it imports only feedstocks and blending components — not petrol.

“These materials, including high sulphur reformates, low-RON condensates, and high sulphur cracked gasoline, must undergo further processing before they meet regulated market specifications,” the plant said.

The refinery said this is a standard global practice, especially “among advanced refining hubs in Europe and Asia, where facilities routinely optimise their crude slates and blending strategies to enhance operational flexibility and margins”.

Misrepresenting the intermediate streams as “fuel” or “gasoline,” the company said, distorts public understanding and undermines confidence in Nigeria’s domestic refining progress.

Dangote refinery said the only petrol it supplies to the Nigerian market is its Euro 5 compliant petrol, noting that every batch undergoes meticulous quality checks to ensure Nigerians receive fuel that “ranks among the highest quality available globally”.

Since starting operations, the refinery said it has notably improved the quality of fuels available in the Nigerian market and ended the nation’s reliance on low-grade, high-sulphur gasoline historically imported into West Africa.

Dangote refinery called on industry stakeholders to adopt higher levels of technical accuracy, balance, and responsibility in their reporting.