The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird, former CEO of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Gatekeepers News reports that the appointment, which took effect in July 2025, is part of a strategic move to overcome operational challenges and steer the next phase of growth for the refinery.
Despite the leadership change, Aliko Dangote will continue as chairman of the refining business and remain CEO of the parent company, Dangote Industries Limited, which oversees operations in cement, fertiliser, and sugar refining.
Bird, who also previously led operations at Shell’s Balau Pokom refinery, will now head the fuels and petrochemicals division of the Dangote Group.
His role is expected to focus on increasing output, improving operational efficiency, and expanding the company’s footprint across the African refining and petrochemicals market.
The company aims to tap into Bird’s extensive experience in growing Duqm refinery operations and managing diversified crude supply chains.
According to a LinkedIn update, his priorities at Dangote will include optimising refinery performance and expanding market reach beyond Nigeria.
Since its launch in January 2024, the Dangote refinery has played a key role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. Still, challenges such as exploitative trade practices and poor-quality fuel imports have created obstacles, which Dangote has publicly criticised.
Bird is known for promoting a trading-focused operational strategy that prioritises high utilisation, efficiency, and flexibility in crude sourcing, an approach that complements the refinery’s ongoing transition to processing a broader range of crude types due to supply limitations of its initially targeted Nigerian grades.
