…As Trade Minister Reaffirms FG’s Commitment to Domestic Investors
By Sahel Reporters – Lagos
President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing policies that are rejuvenating investor confidence and reviving the private sector in Nigeria.
Dangote made the remarks during a facility tour by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, over the weekend.
Describing President Tinubu as a “listening leader,” Dangote applauded recent reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and enhancing local production. He specifically praised the Nigeria First policy and the Naira-for-Crude initiative, saying they are game changers for domestic refineries.
“We must sincerely thank His Excellency for ensuring steady improvement in crude oil supply. His insistence that crude transactions be conducted in naira is a bold and commendable move. This is key to helping refineries like ours meet demand effectively,” Dangote stated.
The business mogul also observed a notable stabilisation in the naira-to-dollar exchange rate, attributing the positive trend to Tinubu’s reforms. According to him, this has introduced much-needed predictability to the market, enabling businesses to make more strategic investment decisions.
“We are seeing reduced fluctuations in the exchange rate, and that allows us to plan ahead. As these reforms mature, I believe the naira will strengthen even more,” he added.
Dangote further lauded the Federal Government’s establishment of a One-Stop Shop (OSS) to coordinate regulatory and security agencies involved in the Naira-for-Crude programme. He noted that the OSS has significantly enhanced operational efficiency and responsiveness.
“At present, loading is running smoothly, thanks to the collaboration of all agencies—Navy, NIMASA, NPA—under one roof. Any emerging issues are swiftly resolved through the leadership of the Technical Committee chaired by Mr. Zacch Adedeji,” he said.
In addition, he revealed plans to deploy 4,000 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) tankers to ease distribution of petroleum products across the country. The initiative, he said, will cut logistics costs and ensure more accessible and affordable fuel for Nigerians.
On her part, Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to promote and protect domestic investments.
“President Tinubu has made it clear that Nigerian investors come first. We recently held the first-ever Domestic Investment Summit, and now we are here at the invitation of Alhaji Dangote—a patriot whose investments are reshaping Nigeria’s industrial landscape,” she said.
Dr. Oduwole described the Dangote Refinery as a monumental achievement, noting that such a project is rarely attempted even by national governments.
“This is not just a visit; it is a full-day engagement that demonstrates our seriousness in supporting homegrown investors. We are not just talking—we are acting. From regulatory reforms to policy interventions, we are backing our words with action,” she affirmed.
The minister also assured that the government remains actively engaged with stakeholders to review frameworks that will reduce the cost of doing business and encourage industrial growth.
With this collaboration between public policy and private enterprise, both leaders agreed that Nigeria is on a clearer path toward sustainable economic recovery and industrial transformation.
