President Ruto cites Dangote refinery as blueprint for African self-reliance

President William Ruto has lauded Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote for his role in mitigating fuel supply disruptions in Nigeria, stating that the continent’s most pressing challenges require local solutions. Speaking at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi on Thursday, April 23, 2026, President Ruto used the development of the 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos to illustrate the potential of private African capital.

The President noted that Nigeria had remained a major oil producer for decades while its citizens frequently faced severe shortages and long queues at petrol stations. He told delegates that the persistent reliance on external fixes had failed to resolve the crisis until a domestic investor intervened to build the massive facility.

President Ruto emphasized that the solution to Nigeria’s long-term fuel challenges was not found in Europe or Asia, but within the country itself. He argued that the project proves Africa possesses the necessary leadership, industrial capacity, and financial strength to transform its own economic trajectory without waiting for foreign intervention.

This endorsement comes at a time when the Dangote Refinery has reached full operational capacity, recently beginning exports of gasoline to several African nations, including Tanzania and Ghana. The facility, which was over eight years in the making, has become a focal point for discussions regarding energy security across the continent as global supply chains face ongoing volatility.

President Ruto linked the success of such large-scale African projects to Kenya’s own infrastructure goals. He highlighted the establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund and the proposed Sovereign Wealth Fund as mechanisms designed to mobilize the capital required for major developments. Kenya currently estimates an infrastructure funding requirement of nearly $40 billion over the next decade.

The President urged other African governments to foster environments that allow local investors to thrive. He stated that waiting for foreign investors to develop the land is a strategy that often yields slow results, suggesting instead that Africans must take the lead to encourage others to join the efforts.

Beyond the energy sector, President Ruto noted that such investments create a ripple effect throughout the economy, reducing the impact of global price shocks on local transport, agriculture, and manufacturing. He suggested that the Dangote model of self-reliance should serve as a lesson for the broader continent in achieving industrial growth.