Tinubu, Dangote Align on Africa’s Energy Independence and Oil Sector Reform

By Aremu Toyeebaht

President Bola Tinubu met privately with Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, deepening strategic conversations around Nigeria’s oil and gas sector reforms and the continent’s pursuit of energy independence.

Though details of the meeting were not made public, the timing, following President Tinubu’s June visit to the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, highlights the government’s ongoing alignment with private-sector initiatives aimed at reducing Nigeria’s fuel import dependency.

Earlier the same day, President Tinubu addressed delegates at the West African Refined Fuel Conference, stressing the urgency for Africa to redefine its position in global energy markets. “Africa can no longer be a price taker,” Tinubu posted on X. “We must set transparent benchmarks that reflect our true value and protect our economies.”

Delivering a presentation titled “Building an African Refinery Hub: Prospects and Challenges”, Dangote warned that systemic rent-seeking behavior and entrenched interests pose serious threats to the growth of refineries in Africa. “When a refinery disrupts this setup, it challenges powerful forces determined to resist and maintain the status quo,” he said