Dangote refinery proves Africa can build big projects – Sanwo-Olu

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the Dangote Refinery demonstrates that Africa has the capacity to execute major projects at massive scale.

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In a post on his X account on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu spoke during the Lagos-New York 2026 Learning Journey at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

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Reflecting on the development of the Lekki corridor, the governor said the site where the refinery now stands was once open water.

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“A decade ago, the ground beneath our feet was open water. Everything built here had to be imagined, funded and reclaimed from the sea,” Sanwo-Olu said.

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“That is the essence of Lagos. We do not wait for perfect conditions; we build the ground first.”

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The governor highlighted the refinery’s production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, describing it as evidence of Africa’s ability to deliver projects on a global scale.

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“Producing 650,000 barrels a day, this refinery proves Africa can execute at a massive scale,” he said.

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Sanwo-Olu thanked Aliko Dangote and the organisations involved in the learning journey for their contributions to the development of the region.

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“I thank my brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for believing in Lagos when it was expensive to do so,” he said, also acknowledging the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Forum of Young Global Leaders, the Africa Center and Afreximbank.

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The governor said discussions about scale were particularly relevant to Lagos, which he described as a city facing many of the challenges that will shape Africa’s future.

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“We came together to talk about scale, but scale is not an abstract concept to us. It is the daily reality of governing over 25 million people,” Sanwo-Olu said.

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“Every pressure Africa will face this century, Lagos is confronting this decade: our roads, our energy, and a young population that will either drive our growth or define our risk.”

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Sanwo-Olu said his administration was focused not only on existing projects but also on creating an environment where future investors and entrepreneurs could build more easily.

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“A system that relies on one man’s extraordinary willpower is not a business model. That is heroism and heroism is hard to repeat,” he said.

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“The true test of this refinery is whether the next builder has a smoother path.”

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He pointed to major infrastructure projects around the Lekki corridor, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Free Zone and Blue Line rail, as part of efforts to create an integrated environment for investment.

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“That is our commitment. Everything my administration has put into the Lekki corridor, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Free Zone, the Blue Line rail, and the upcoming airport is designed so the next investor does not have to build from scratch,” he said.

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Sanwo-Olu urged the Young Global Leaders participating in the programme to turn discussions about Africa’s future into concrete partnerships.

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“Africa is not waiting for permission to build,” he said. “We have already started, and now is the time to turn conversations into partnerships.”

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