The Dangote Refinery would lead to the employment of over 70,000 Nigerians when it finally starts operation. This is according to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
While addressing reporters during a tour of the refinery, Emefiele said the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant, when operational, would increase its workforce from the current 34,000 to over 70,000.
The CBN Governor’s statement is in line with what Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group said during the tour. He reiterated his commitment towards reducing unemployment in the country, as he disclosed that the plant would also retain foreign exchange as Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in petroleum refining.
“Besides, we are going to help in terms of not only creating jobs but also in reducing the outflow of foreign exchange, not only in petroleum products but also in petrochemicals and in fertilisers. We would be one of the highest foreign exchange generating companies, going forward,” Dangote said.
[READ MORE: Femi Otedola gives situation report on Dangote Refinery and the other projects)
Speaking further, the billionaire said that operations at its new $2 billion granulated urea fertiliser plant at Ibeju-Lekki would begin in May 2020. He said the fertiliser plant would make Nigeria the only urea exporting country in sub-Saharan Africa and biggest producer of polyethene, which is capable of generating $2.5 billion annually.
Dangote’s words: “Nigeria will soon become the biggest and only urea exporter in sub-Saharan Africa, for the first time. And we are not only exporting, but we would also be exporting big time.
“We are also going to have polyethene which is about 1.3 million tonnes annually. These two products would bring in about $2.5 billion annually in terms of foreign exchange. A lot of forex would now come in and that $2.5 billion is only about 10 per cent of remittances.”
Pre-testing of the fertiliser plant: According to Dangote, all the sections of the fertiliser plant such as Central Control Room, Ammonia and Urea Bulk Storage, Cooling Tower, Power Generator Plant and Granulation Plant, have all been completed and are going through pre-testing.
He said the project would be the largest fertiliser plant in the world with its 3 million tonnes per annum capacity which would make Nigeria the largest exporter of petroleum products in Africa, The Nation reports.
While appreciating the CBN and the President for the policies put in place to support the project, Dangote disclosed the size of the project, saying it necessitated the construction of a jetty to take care of the over-dimensional cargoes.
[READ ALSO: Dangote Refinery to save Nigeria $10 billion in forex)
“It is a huge project. That is why we have built a jetty and the pipeline through which we are bringing in the crude. One of the reasons the CBN is supporting us is that by the time we become operational, we will not only be creating jobs but we will reduce the outflow of foreign exchange not only in petroleum products but in petrochemicals and fertilisers.
“We will be one of the highest foreign exchange generating companies, going forward. I must really confess that without the government’s support, there is no way we could have done what we have done so far,” Dangote said.
Silent
Gud man
Great!
May the almighty God continue to give Mr. Alico Dangote the strength for having Nigerians at heart. You will always have our support through prayer, thank you.
Great
Great more bless sir