Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has appealed to Nigerians to support Dangote Refinery, describing it as a vital national project capable of boosting the naira’s value and transforming the economy.
Gatekeepers News reports that Omokri made the call on Friday during his visit to the refinery located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos. He stressed that the success of the refinery is not just for Dangote but for the entire nation.
Omokri said, “Nigerians should be proud of what is happening here. All of us have a role to play. The citizens, the unions, and the government must support the refinery because its export will bolster the value of the Naira.”
He warned that any attempt to frustrate the refinery’s operations would negatively affect the naira, urging Nigerians to see the facility as a collective investment in national progress.
Accompanied by King Dakolo, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, Omokri hailed the facility as the world’s largest single-train refinery and “an up-to-tomorrow facility,” noting that it operates independently of public utilities.
He added, “This refinery is not a drain on public power or water supply. In fact, they produce 10 percent of Nigeria’s electricity. In this facility, they generate 500 MW, and at the fertiliser plant, they generate 150 MW — a total of 650 MW. So, we need to support this initiative.”
The ex-presidential side also commended Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, for his patriotism and entrepreneurship, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the Lekki Free Trade Zone during his tenure as Lagos governor.
Omokri highlighted that within its first year, 650 ships had loaded products from the refinery — a milestone he said enhances Nigeria’s export capacity and strengthens the naira.
He said, “The naira in your pocket will have no value if we do not replace imports with locally produced goods and services. Dangote is the reason Nigeria is no longer Africa’s top petrol importer. We are now the leading exporter of petroleum products in West Africa.”
According to him, the refinery, combined with recent government policies, has turned Nigeria’s trade balance positive.
He further revealed, “Last year, we had a trade surplus of $14 billion. This year, we’ve already surpassed that by 44.3 percent.”
Omokri urged citizens to embrace made-in-Nigeria products and locally refined fuel, saying, “My message to Nigerians is: let’s buy Nigerian. Let’s be intentional about buying petrol refined in Nigeria.”
He expressed satisfaction that the refinery and its related facilities are being operated and maintained by young Nigerians, including women, from across the country.
