In a historic moment, Nigeria marked a significant milestone with the completion of the Dangote Refinery and the rollout of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on September 3, 2024. This monumental achievement was met with widespread celebration, and Chief Sen. Dr. E. K. Clark, OFR, CON, was among the first to extend his warmest congratulations to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON.
Clark, a renowned statesman, praised Dangote’s pioneering spirit and commitment to innovation, which has once again positioned Nigeria on the global stage. “This project will boost the Nigerian economy, increase domestic production, reduce reliance on imports, and create thousands of jobs for our young people,” Clark noted.
The Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, promises to end the long queues at filling stations that have plagued Nigerians for decades. Clark commended Dangote’s philanthropic efforts, including the distribution of rice to all parts of Nigeria, and urged other entrepreneurs to follow his lead.
Clark also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under whose leadership this remarkable achievement was realized. He called on the President to continue supporting this laudable effort and similar projects in the national oil and gas industry.
However, Clark also sounded a note of caution. He emphasized the need for regular access to sufficient crude oil to service the refinery and other new refineries. Additionally, he stressed the importance of implementing a pricing regime that does not inflict more suffering on Nigerians.
Clark reminded President Tinubu of the policy of creating Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta, endorsed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. He urged the President to reopen this policy to complement the Dangote Refinery.
As Nigeria celebrates this achievement, Clark reflected on the significance of this moment. “After nearly 30 years of importing all petroleum products, national pride returns to us.” He wished President Tinubu, Alhaji Dangote, and their teams continued success and looked forward to seeing the positive impact on the nation.
With the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria has taken a giant leap towards energy self-sufficiency. As Clark aptly put it, “This is a new era for Nigeria, and we must seize this opportunity to build a brighter future for generations to come.”
