- He said it made him feel better and fulfilled that he was creating job opportunities for thousands of Nigerians
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, has revealed why he continues to site big and numerous businesses in Nigeria despite the harsh operating environment.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Sunday, Dangote stated that his decision to invest massively in Nigeria is spurred by patriotism and love for the country.
He said it made him feel better and fulfilled that he was creating job opportunities for thousands of Nigerians.
He also said his wish was to be remembered for the value he added to Nigeria’s economic development after he was gone.
On what he was planning to do next considering that the refinery, which is the largest single train edifice in the world, has been successfully delivered, Dangote said government’s policies remain the key to what he will invest in.
“Policy inconsistencies could affect what we do. We have gas-related projects in our plans, but this depends on how government policies favour our operations,” he said.
“Manufacturers create jobs, they invest their money to help the economy, but when you import, you are encouraging poverty.
“The best way is to build factories and produce what you import. The PIA is saying that once there is enough capacity, there is no reason to import.
“In Africa today, only Algeria and Libya have the capacity to feed their local markets. Our refinery has the capacity to satisfy our local demands and we have more to export,” he said.
Dangote also said he believes his refinery will stand the test of time, adding that green energy is good, but it will take a long time to replace fossil fuel.