President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced that Nigerians will have the opportunity to purchase shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery within the next four to five months, with dividends payable in either naira or dollars.
Dangote made the disclosure on Saturday during a high-profile visit by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Engr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, alongside members of the company’s board and executive management team. The visit marks the first official tour of the facility by senior management of the state-owned energy firm, signalling a new phase of collaboration between both organisations.
Describing the visit as symbolic, Dangote noted that the NNPC is not merely a guest but a key shareholder in the refinery.
“Today is really our best day ever. He’s not just a guest, he’s a shareholder,” Dangote said, referring to Ojulari. “NNPC invested in us even when we were not sure whether the refinery would be successful. That shows the level of confidence.”
The NNPC currently holds a 7.25 per cent stake in the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery on behalf of Nigerians. Dangote emphasised that individual Nigerians would soon be able to participate directly in the ownership structure.
