Dangote refinery expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day capacity projected to create 95,000 jobs
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, announced that the expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day is expected to create employment for approximately 95,000 skilled workers during the peak construction phase. Dangote shared this information in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a significant milestone for Nigeria's industrial transformation. He emphasized the group's commitment to engineering excellence, job creation, and sustainable economic growth, noting that the project will rely heavily on Nigerian expertise, providing opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals. Upon completion, the expanded refinery is anticipated to become the world's largest, surpassing India's Jamnagar refinery, thereby strengthening Nigeria's refining capacity. The expansion is also expected to stimulate local manufacturing, enhance technology transfer, deepen Nigeria's oil and gas value chain, improve fuel security, reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, and generate significant foreign exchange savings for the Nigerian economy. The President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Rahamon Bello, commended Dangote's impact, stating that his journey inspires a new generation of professionals.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael," directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, the pop star's nephew, opened at number one at the North American box office this weekend, earning $97 million. Industry analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research noted this as a record-shattering opening for a musical biography. While the film has strong audience approval and is seen as a feel-good, nostalgic appreciation, critics have given it weak reviews, with many feeling it is superficial and avoids complicated aspects of Jackson's life, including allegations of sexual misbehavior. Globally, the film has already grossed nearly $220 million. Other top-performing films at the North American box office included "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" in second place with $21.2 million, bringing its global total to over $775 million. "Project Hail Mary" secured third place with $13.2 million, and "Lee Cronin’s The Mummy" was fourth with $5.6 million. "The Drama" took fifth place with an additional $2.6 million, reaching a global total of $80 million.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has defended Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde's recent comments referencing the historical "Operation Wetie" crisis, asserting that his remarks were a caution against political excesses rather than a call to violence. This defense comes amid heightened political tensions leading up to the 2027 general elections. In a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP accused the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress APC of deliberately misinterpreting Governor Makinde's speech, delivered at the Opposition Political Parties National Summit in Ibadan on Saturday. The PDP clarified that Makinde's use of history served as an advisory to the Federal Government, the APC, and other national institutions regarding the potential for crisis resulting from their actions. The party argued that only a "guilty aggressor" would interpret the remarks as a threat. Governor Makinde, who hosted the summit attended by prominent opposition figures, had referenced the violent political events in the old Western Region. The APC had criticized these comments as a veiled threat. However, the PDP maintained that Makinde was merely warning about the consequences of poor governance and political repression, highlighting how "insatiable political greed and avarice" combined with public frustration could lead to widespread unrest. The PDP further alleged that current political developments mirror past crises,
Galatasaray secured a 3-0 victory over Fenerbahce in an Istanbul derby, moving closer to a fourth consecutive Turkish Super Lig title. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen opened the scoring in the 40th minute, marking his return from injury. Baris Alper Yilmaz doubled Galatasaray's lead from a penalty in the 67th minute, and Lucas Torreira sealed the win with a third goal late in the game. The win extends Galatasaray's lead over second-placed Fenerbahce to seven points with four matches remaining. The match saw early tension and bookings, with Fenerbahce missing a penalty in the 13th minute. Fenerbahce's hopes were further diminished when one of their players received a red card in the 62nd minute. Galatasaray capitalized on the numerical advantage to secure a dominant performance.
Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, clarified its decision to decline the proposed venue for a lecture by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. The university's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that organizers provided insufficient notice and details about the event and guest until the day before the scheduled program. This short notice prevented the institution from making necessary security and logistical arrangements for a high-profile personality. The university emphasized that events involving such figures require adequate prior notification to coordinate with security agencies like the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services to ensure safety. The decision was based on safety protocols and was not a reflection of disregard for Obi's person or status. Obi had previously expressed concern over what he described as a pattern of cancelled engagements at Nigerian universities, which he warned could undermine intellectual freedom, noting similar incidents had occurred more than 10 times.