Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) has denied reports suggesting that it imports finished petroleum products, describing the allegations as false and misleading, officials said at a media briefing.
The clarification was issued during a press conference at the refinery in Lekki, Lagos.
DPRP Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Bird, said the refinery refines crude oil and processes intermediate feedstocks into finished fuels and petrochemicals that meet international quality standards, and that the handling of semi‑processed materials is a standard industry practice that does not equate to importing finished products.
Bird explained that the Dangote refinery operates with a merchant refinery model similar to those in Europe and Asia, using advanced refining, blending and trading systems to produce premium petroleum products aligned with environmental and health standards.
He said intermediate materials, such as naphtha and vacuum gas oil, serve as feedstock for further refining into finished fuels such as petrol and diesel.
“DPRP produces high‑quality fuels aligned with international environmental and health standards,” Bird said, noting that its gasoline is lead‑free and MMT‑free, while diesel meets ultra‑low sulphur specifications. He added that semi‑finished fuels are not released into the Nigerian market because they are unsuitable for direct consumer use.
Bird reaffirmed that the refinery supplies only fully refined, market‑ready products domestically, and that these products are also exported to international markets, demonstrating their quality and competitiveness.
Dangote’s Group Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, emphasised the importance of accurate terminology in media reporting, urging journalists to distinguish clearly between imported intermediate feedstocks and finished petroleum products to avoid public misunderstanding.
The refinery’s statement underlines its position that reports alleging imported finished fuels do not reflect its operational practices and affirms its role in refining and supplying petroleum products that comply with regulatory and global benchmarks.
