President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the ongoing expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day is expected to generate about 95,000 skilled jobs at its peak construction phase.
Dangote made the disclosure in Lagos at the weekend during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, where he described the project as a key step in Nigeria’s push for industrial growth and energy independence.
He said the expansion reflects the group’s long-term commitment to engineering development, local capacity building, and job creation across the country.
“At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect about 95,000 skilled workers on site, and we will continue to grow,” Dangote said, noting that the project would heavily rely on Nigerian engineers and technical experts.
According to him, once completed, the refinery will surpass India’s Jamnagar refinery to become the largest in the world, significantly boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
Dangote added that the project is expected to strengthen the country’s industrial base by creating opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals, while also driving technology transfer and local manufacturing.
He further explained that the expansion aligns with the group’s vision of deepening Africa’s industrial capacity and building infrastructure that meets global standards.
Beyond job creation, he said the refinery will improve fuel availability, enhance energy security, and help conserve foreign exchange by reducing Nigeria’s reliance on petroleum imports.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Professor Rahamon Bello, commended Dangote’s contributions, describing them as transformative and inspirational for the engineering profession.
He said Dangote’s projects have continued to inspire a new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs to pursue large-scale industrial ambitions within Africa.
The refinery, which currently has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is expected to be scaled up over the next three years as part of the expansion plan.
