Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has praised Aliko Dangote for the successful launch of his $20 billion refinery in Lagos, heralding it as a groundbreaking achievement that has the potential to transform Nigeria’s economic landscape. In a social media post on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Otedola emphasized the refinery’s critical role in reducing Nigeria’s dependency on foreign oil, likening its impact to a liberation from economic slavery.
“You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long,” Otedola declared.
With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote Refinery is now producing aviation fuel, diesel, and petrol, a development Otedola believes will mark the end of Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel. He noted that the success of the refinery could render fuel imports obsolete, similar to how Dangote previously revolutionized the cement industry in Nigeria.
“You have dealt a death blow to the so-called local cabals who have fattened themselves for years, feeding off our nation’s economic slavery,” Otedola added, referring to those who have profited from Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel.
Otedola also urged depot owners to adapt to the new reality or risk being left behind, asserting that “the world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.”
He concluded by expressing deep admiration for Dangote, calling the refinery’s success a victory not just for Dangote but for all Nigerians.