This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Anthony
Chiejina, Group Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group on Sunday in
Lagos.
According to the President, Dangote Group, the project
currently employed 29,000 Nigerians and 11,000 foreigners at the 650,000
barrels-per-day world’s largest single refinery project, located in Ibeju Lekki
area of Lagos State.
This, he said was a ratio of about three Nigerians to one
expatriate, with a projected increase for local talent with the new additions.
The business mogul said the refinery project remained the
biggest in Africa, and one of the biggest in the world, adding that many
Nigerians were getting massive training as a way to build in-country capacity.
He added that the construction of the refinery was informed
by his desire to help the Federal Government, tackle the lingering issue of
petroleum products’ importation.
Dangote described the refinery project as an investment that
would transform the economies of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
“It makes me feel terrible to see a country as big and
resourceful as Nigeria with high population, importing all its petroleum
products, so, we decided it is time to tackle this challenge.
“It is not government’s responsibility alone to address the
challenge of petroleum products importation in Nigeria. No, we have to
collaborate with the government to tackle the issue of petroleum importation.
“We are creating a lot of capacity in the country, which
will be of great help for future oil projects in Nigeria, most especially, with
the opening up of the oil industry through the new Petroleum Industry Act.
“It means that the country can boast of human capacity,
needed in the oil and gas sector.
“Most of these Nigerians can compete anywhere in the world,
in terms of electrical, welding, mechanical erection etc. We have actually
created massive capacity,” he added.
Dangote emphasised the need for the country to shift
attention from crude oil export and diversify the economy.
“We should not as a country, be comfortable with generating
revenue from crude oil export alone, because tomorrow, people may not need
crude oil.
“If we do not move from crude oil to something else, we will
have issues as a country. This is one of the things that I took upon myself to
help address,” he said.