Lagos, July 11, 2025 – Aliko Dangote, the Chief Executive of Dangote Group, has expressed doubt on the likelihood of the NNPC refineries being operational again.
The NNPCL refineries are the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries.
Dangote said this recently when members of the Global CEO Africa from the Lagos Business School had a facility tour of his refinery in Lagos.
He said the refineries were still not in good shape in spite of the ludicrous amount spent on reviving them.
According to the Punch, Dangote said federal government had spent about $18 billion on those refineries, but they are still not working.
“And I don’t think, and I doubt very much if they will work,” he said.
Dangote said the refineries’ turnaround maintenance were similar to attempting to update a car that was manufactured 40 years ago, even though technology had since evolved.
“The turnaround maintenance is like you trying to modernize a car that was built 40 years ago, when technology and everything have changed.
“Even if you change the engine, the body will not be able to take the shock of that new technology engine,” he said.
