Just in: Pres. Buhari lands in Lekki for Dangote Refinery inauguration

Outgoing Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has arrived in Ibeju- Lekki on Lagos Island, the site of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals for the epoch-making inauguration of Africa’s biggest refinery.

Buhari flew in at about 11.12 am on Monday with Presidents of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; President of Senegal, Macky Sall; President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, President of Chad, Mahamat Déby and a host of ambassadors in attendance.

President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the refinery is located, is represented at the event by Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima.

Persecondnews reports that Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who was unavailable, is expected to send in his goodwill message virtually.

State governors, some governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria and from outside the country, global oil traders, top international bankers, and international multilateral agencies are also present at the occasion.

The refinery generally described as the “game changer” will positively transform Nigeria’s oil and gas landscape.

Dangote Refinery is established by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

The petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) is sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will provide employment to over 100,000 persons.

The coming onstream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil rich nations which are heavily dependent on petroleum products importation.