Our CNG drivers have life Insurance coverage, housing loans, and earn thrice the minimal wage -Dangote refinery

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, on Monday revealed that his resolve to take 1000’s of Nigerians off the unemployment market stays intact, noting that his firms will proceed to make use of Nigerians and contribute to additional lowering the nation’s unemployment charge.

Talking to the media in his Refinery advanced on Monday, Dangote stated his firm respects commerce unions, however that membership is a private selection for every driver.

“We aren’t attempting to take anyone out of the market. These vehicles that we launched didn’t cease anyone from their work…You might be saying there will likely be a lack of jobs, will our personal tankers be pushed by robots?… Now we have not displaced any jobs; we’re creating many extra…Our workers earn salaries thrice the minimal wage. Our drivers obtain a residing wage, life insurance coverage, medical insurance masking themselves, their spouses, and as much as 4 kids, in addition to a lifelong pension. We aren’t solely using drivers but additionally mechanics, fleet managers, and different professionals to help the CNG fleet.”

He additional revealed that the corporate’s CNG truck drivers can apply for and get a housing mortgage after 5 years of working and never being concerned in any accident, and that it’s non-compulsory for them to hitch the Union.

Acknowledging the quite a few challenges the refinery has confronted since its inception, Dangote emphasised the corporate’s unwavering dedication to Nigeria and Africa.

“The journey has been difficult as a result of we sought to rework the downstream sector in Nigeria. Some believed we had been taking meals from their tables, which merely isn’t true. What now we have performed is to make our nation and continent proud. Beforehand, solely two African nations weren’t importing petrol, however regrettably, they’ve since resumed imports. That is detrimental to Africa,” he added.

Reflecting on the challenges confronted in the course of the refinery’s growth, Dangote disclosed that the challenge concerned huge threat. He obtained repeated warnings from trade specialists, traders, native and overseas authorities officers, who argued that solely sovereign nations undertake such large-scale refinery ventures. He admitted that had the challenge failed, he would have misplaced all his property to lenders.

“The choice to construct the refinery was not simple. If it had gone incorrect, lenders would have taken our property. However we believed in Nigeria and Africa,” he stated.

Regardless of opposition and financial headwinds, the refinery has efficiently lowered the worth of petrol from practically N1,100 earlier than manufacturing started to N841 within the Southwest, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara. With the gradual rollout of CNG-powered vehicles, Dangote anticipates that this value discount will quickly be felt nationwide.

He famous that the refinery has ample capability to satisfy Nigeria’s home demand whereas additionally producing overseas trade by way of exports.  He revealed that between June and the primary week of September 2025, the power had exported over 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), underscoring its capability to satisfy home demand and contribute considerably to overseas trade earnings.

He reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s industrialisation, describing it as important for the continent’s growth. Dangote emphasised the pressing want for Nigeria to guard its native industries and discourage the dumping of low cost overseas items, citing the collapse of the once-thriving textile sector as a cautionary instance.

He famous that Nigeria’s path to sustainable financial progress lies in industrialisation, which not solely boosts native productiveness but additionally helps a round economic system.

“Different nations weren’t industrialised by outsiders. We should construct and industrialise our personal economies. With out this, how can others make investments? That’s the reason I consider the Nationwide Meeting ought to enact laws to help the Federal Authorities’s ‘Nigeria First’ coverage. My aim is to see Africa prosper, as now we have the fastest-growing inhabitants on the planet. Counting on imports means exporting jobs and importing poverty. Many people with larger monetary assets than myself need to make investments, however the challenges we face discourage them. Quite a few sectors are nonetheless in pressing want of industrialisation,” he stated

He reiterated that with the introduction of CNG vehicles, the refinery can ship merchandise to customers wherever in Nigeria, mitigating all related dangers.

Dangote reiterated that the refinery stays open to partnerships and collaborations with different stakeholders within the downstream sector, stressing that the trade stands to achieve extra by way of collective effort and cooperation.