Dangote Refinery Boss Pushes for Shutdown of Inefficient State Refineries, Advocates Modern Energy Systems

The Managing Director of Dangote Group, David Bird, has called for the closure of Nigeria’s underperforming refineries, arguing that continued reliance on outdated facilities is draining resources without delivering meaningful results.

Bird made the remarks while addressing industry stakeholders, where he criticized the persistent rehabilitation efforts on the country’s state-owned refineries, describing them as economically unviable in their current condition.

He noted that despite years of investment and repeated turnaround maintenance exercises, the refineries have struggled to operate efficiently, raising questions about the sustainability of continued funding.

According to him, Nigeria should prioritize modern and more efficient refining systems instead of repeatedly attempting to revive aging infrastructure that no longer meets global industry standards.

Bird emphasized that embracing advanced technology and privately driven solutions would better position the country to achieve energy security and reduce dependence on fuel imports.

He added that a shift toward more productive and scalable refining models is necessary for long-term stability in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.