African presidents to attend Dangote refinery commissioning
The presidents of Togo, Ghana, Senegal, Chad, and Niger Republic are to attend the commissioning of the Dangote petroleum refinery on Monday, May 22. They are Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo); Nana Akufo-Addo, (Ghana); Macky Sall, (Senegal); Mohamed Bazoum, (Niger Republic); Mahamat Déby, (Chad).
According to the programme of event, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will deliver the goodwill message, though virtually.
A statement from the organisers said that 36 state governors, governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria and outside are to grace the occasion.
“In an epoch-making event that will positively transform Nigeria’s oil and gas sectoral landscape, President Muhammadu Buhari will today commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single train refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, alongside his counterparts from Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Niger, and Chad,” the statement reads.
“Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), is sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will employ over 100,000 persons.
“The coming onstream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil-rich nations which are heavy importers of petroleum products.
“Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the refinery is located, is expected to be at the event.
“The commissioning of Dangote petroleum refinery is significant given that it is the first time that a refinery of such magnitude built by an individual is being commissioned.”
