Kenyan President William Ruto has toured the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, describing the facility as a demonstration of what African governments, investors and financial institutions can achieve through collaboration.
Ruto made this remarks during a visit to the refinery in Lekki, Lagos, at the invitation of Dangote Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote.
The Kenyan president commended the scale of the refinery, highlighting its potential to strengthen Africa’s industrial capacity and demonstrate the benefits of African-led investment and partnerships.
The visit forms part of efforts to deepen economic and investment ties across the continent and showcase large-scale African enterprises.
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The visit came just days before the planned groundbreaking of the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, scheduled for September 30.
During the tour, President Ruto inspected key sections of the refinery and petrochemical complex, which is designed to refine 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
He said the Nigerian facility produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel daily, while its extensive infrastructure includes systems for transporting crude oil from offshore vessels to the refinery.
President Ruto described the investment as a major demonstration of Africa’s capacity to develop large-scale industrial projects when governments, private investors and financial institutions work together.
The Kenyan leader said the planned refinery in Lamu would be larger and could transform Kenya’s petroleum sector while strengthening energy security and supporting industrialisation across the region.
According to President Ruto, the project is expected to create about 60,000 jobs and stimulate the development of related industries, including fertiliser, chemicals and packaging.
The proposed Lamu project is part of a broader push to expand Africa’s domestic refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and increase value addition within the continent.
For Kenya, the project is expected to have implications beyond fuel production, with the development of supporting infrastructure and industries potentially creating new opportunities across the energy and manufacturing sectors.
The Lagos visit also highlights growing economic links between West and East Africa, as African businesses increasingly expand beyond national borders and pursue major investments in different parts of the continent.
Aliko Dangote has described the Lamu project as part of the group’s broader African industrial expansion.
President Ruto’s visit therefore provides a practical look at an existing Nigerian industrial project as Kenya prepares to begin work on its own major refinery.
The proposed Lamu refinery is expected to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, with the September 30 groundbreaking set to mark a significant step in the project’s development.
The development reflects an emerging emphasis on African-led investment, industrialisation and regional economic cooperation, with energy infrastructure increasingly viewed as a foundation for broader economic growth.
