LAGOS, March 23, (V7N)– Nigeria’s Dangote mega-refinery has announced it has started exporting fuel to other African countries, as global oil prices surge due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.  

The refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, said late Sunday it had sold 12 cargoes totaling 456,000 tonnes to countries including Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo.  

Located east of Lagos, the refinery has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, enabling it to exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs. “By supplying neighbouring and other economies, the Dangote Refinery is expected to contribute to enhance energy security in west, east and central Africa,” the company said in a statement.  

A spokesman told AFP that the decision was driven by the Middle East war and rising demand from abroad, noting that requests for jet fuel have also come from outsi

- Petrol prices in Lagos have risen from 830 naira per litre to more than 1,300 naira ($0.60–$0.94).  

- At the start of the war, Dangote pledged to prioritize the domestic market to prevent shortages and limit price hikes.  

- Before the refinery opened in 2024, Nigeria imported almost all of its fuel, leading to recurrent shortages.  

The refinery’s exports mark a significant shift, positioning Nigeria not only as a self-sufficient fuel producer but also as a supplier to regional and international markets during a time of global energy instability.  

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