Sunday Esan, Senior General Manager, Corporate Communications at Dangote Industries Ltd., stated that by substituting locally refined goods for imported petroleum, Dangote Refinery has saved Nigeria about ₦10 billion in foreign cash per year. Esan revealed this on Thursday in Lagos at the Nigeria Union of Journalists' Lagos State Council's 2025 Media Week, which has as its topic "Unlocking Opportunities for Businesses in a Challenging Economy: The Role of the Media / Roadmaps to Energy Security in Nigeria."
"The refinery is more than a national landmark; it is strengthening our national energy supply, lowering foreign exchange outflows, boosting GDP growth, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria as a regional energy hub," he stated.
He claims that since the refinery started up about two years ago, the country's reliance on imported petroleum products has considerably decreased.
According to him, they include boosting the nation's energy supply chain, generating thousands of jobs, stabilizing the Naira, and assisting in the reduction of PMS and diesel imports.
He emphasized that in the first quarter of 2025, petroleum imports fell by 1.54%.
Nigeria's petroleum import expenditures fell precipitously to $1.2 billion in Q1 2025 from $2.6 billion in Q1 2024.
By substituting local manufacturing for imports, Dangote Refinery has saved Nigeria approximately ₦10 billion in foreign money per year.
He said, "It has significantly reduced oil imports and created measurable economic impact."
Esan said that proposals to increase production from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day are being reviewed by the refinery.
Additionally, he mentioned both Saudi Aramco and US consumers were showing interest in the company's goods, particularly jet fuel.
He said it would take at least five hours to drive around the refinery, which spans an area around seven times the size of Victoria Island in Lagos.
Esan stated that at least 24,000 jobs had been generated by the purchase of 4,000 CNG vehicles for product distribution.
He remarked, "This demonstrates the size of the investment that one man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has brought to life."
Speaking about the media's role in energy security, Esan urged reporters—especially NUJ members—to accurately cover industry developments.
“We want your members to visit the refinery so your reports will be accurate and well-informed.
"You will realise that this is a national asset we must protect when some people are determined to bring it down," he continued.
Mr Adeleye Ajayi, the chairman of NUJ Lagos, praised federal efforts to use the energy industry for national development and characterized the talk as a useful chance to look at Nigeria's energy sector difficulties.
Ajayi urged Dangote Group and other energy players to work with the media and reaffirmed the union's responsibility in establishing national agendas.
Mr Wale Akodu, the chairman of the Press Week Committee, thought back on previous difficulties, such as fuel shortages and panic purchases, pointing out that these issues have mostly decreased as a result of increased domestic production.