Sanwo-Olu hails Dangote Refinery as proof Africa can execute major projects, highlighting its 650,000bpd capacity and Lagos’ growing investment corridor

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, as a powerful demonstration of Africa’s ability to deliver major projects at global scale.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during the Lagos-New York 2026 Learning Journey at the refinery, where he joined participants hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

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Reflecting on the transformation of the Lekki corridor, Sanwo-Olu recalled that the area occupied by the refinery was once open water before extensive reclamation and construction turned it into one of Nigeria’s most prominent industrial zones.

“A decade ago, the ground beneath our feet was open water. Everything built here had to be imagined, funded and reclaimed from the sea,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“That is the essence of Lagos. We do not wait for perfect conditions; we build the ground first.”

The governor pointed to the refinery’s stated capacity of 650,000 barrels per day as evidence of what can be achieved when capital, infrastructure and long-term ambition are brought together.

“Producing 650,000 barrels a day, this refinery proves Africa can execute at a massive scale,” he said.

The comments came as leaders and young global figures examined the theme of scale and Africa’s capacity to develop infrastructure capable of supporting rapid economic and population growth.

Sanwo-Olu said the issue was particularly relevant to Lagos, which he described as a city already experiencing pressures that other African cities are likely to face in the coming decades.

“We came together to talk about scale, but scale is not an abstract concept to us. It is the daily reality of governing over 25 million people,” he said.

The governor identified transport, energy and the needs of a rapidly growing young population among the pressures confronting Lagos.

“Every pressure Africa will face this century, Lagos is confronting this decade: our roads, our energy, and a young population that will either drive our growth or define our risk,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also used the occasion to stress that successful development should not depend solely on the determination of individual entrepreneurs.

He argued that governments must create systems and infrastructure that make it easier for subsequent investors to execute ambitious projects.

“A system that relies on one man’s extraordinary willpower is not a business model. That is heroism and heroism is hard to repeat,” he said.

“The true test of this refinery is whether the next builder has a smoother path.”

The governor linked the refinery’s development to broader infrastructure investments along the Lekki corridor, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Lekki Free Zone and the Blue Line rail project.

He said the infrastructure was designed to create an integrated investment environment in which businesses would not have to build every supporting facility from scratch.

“That is our commitment. Everything my administration has put into the Lekki corridor, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Free Zone, the Blue Line rail, and the upcoming airport is designed so the next investor does not have to build from scratch,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor thanked Aliko Dangote for investing in Lagos and acknowledged the contribution of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Forum of Young Global Leaders, Africa Center and Afreximbank to the learning programme.

The Dangote Refinery is one of the most significant industrial developments in Nigeria’s recent history. Located in the Lekki Free Zone, the complex was built to process crude oil for domestic and international markets and has become a major part of Nigeria’s drive to increase local refining capacity.

For Lagos, the refinery is also part of a wider transformation of the Lekki axis from a largely undeveloped coastal area into an increasingly important industrial, logistics and investment hub.

Sanwo-Olu urged the Young Global Leaders taking part in the programme to move beyond discussions about Africa’s potential and develop practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable results.

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“Africa is not waiting for permission to build,” he said. “We have already started, and now is the time to turn conversations into partnerships.”