Dangote Refinery shows Africa can execute projects at massive scale — Sanwo-Olu
LAGOS, Nigeria — Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the Dangote Refinery as a demonstration of Africa’s ability to undertake large-scale projects, stating that the facility exemplifies the ambition necessary for the continent’s development.
Sanwo-Olu’s comments came during the Lagos-New York 2026 Learning Journey, organized by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, at the refinery located in Lekki, Lagos.
He pointed out that the site of the refinery was once open water less than a decade ago, underscoring the vision and investment required to transform the area into a significant industrial complex. “Producing 650,000 barrels a day, this refinery proves Africa can execute at a massive scale,” he said.
The governor praised the contributions of Aliko Dangote, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Forum of Young Global Leaders, The Africa Center, and Afreximbank for their support in this initiative.
Sanwo-Olu elaborated on how the development of the Lekki corridor reflects Lagos’ commitment to infrastructure and economic growth, particularly in fostering an environment conducive to private-sector investment. He noted that Lagos is already addressing many challenges that will influence Africa’s future, including transportation, energy, and the demands of a rapidly growing youth population.
“Every pressure Africa will face this century, Lagos is confronting this decade — our roads, our energy, and a young population that will either drive our growth or define our risk,” he said.
The governor emphasized the importance of establishing systems that facilitate major projects without depending solely on the extraordinary efforts of individual investors. “A system that relies on one man’s extraordinary willpower is not a business model. That is heroism, and heroism is hard to repeat,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu commented on the need to evaluate the success of the Dangote Refinery not only by its production capacity but also by the ease with which future investors can launch large-scale projects in Lagos. “The true test of this refinery is whether the next builder has a smoother path,” he stated.
He further detailed his administration’s investments in the Lekki corridor, which include the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Lekki Free Zone, and the Blue Line rail, as well as plans for a new airport. These projects aim to create an integrated infrastructure network to support ongoing investment.
Sanwo-Olu urged the Young Global Leaders participating in the event to translate discussions about Africa’s development into actionable partnerships. “Africa is not waiting for permission to build. We have already started, and now is the time to turn conversations into partnerships,” he declared.
