Abuja, May 9 — President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has clarified that the Dangote Refinery is not in competition with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), emphasising a new era of cooperation between the two energy giants.
Dangote made the statement during a courtesy visit to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bayo Ojulari, in Abuja on Thursday.
According to NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye, the meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration and foster a mutually beneficial relationship between both organisations.
“There is no competition between us. We are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business, and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of cooperation between the two organisations,” Dangote said.
His comments come amid longstanding speculations of rivalry, particularly regarding crude oil supply arrangements and the broader dynamics of Nigeria’s downstream oil sector. Dangote recently alleged that certain “cabals” — namely, major marketers — had been working against his $20 billion refinery, though he absolved the current NNPC board of involvement.
During the meeting, both Dangote and Ojulari reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s energy security and unlocking shared prosperity through strategic collaboration.
Ojulari assured Dangote of a healthy, competitive partnership grounded in mutual benefit and innovation. He praised NNPC’s workforce, calling them “dedicated, highly skilled, and hardworking professionals” focused on delivering national value.
Dangote also congratulated Ojulari and the senior management team on their recent appointments, noting the significant responsibility they bear and expressing confidence in their capacity to deliver.
Both executives agreed to personally manage the relationship between their respective organisations, committing to ongoing cooperation and alignment on national energy priorities.