The Managing Director of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, has reassured Nigerians that the refinery will continue to meet the nation’s fuel needs despite ongoing disruptions in the global oil and gas market.

He noted that while fuel import‑dependent countries were already experiencing panic buying and rationing, Nigeria would not face such challenges again as the refinery was committed to ensuring petrol availability across the country.

Speaking during a media chat, Bird said the refinery remained steadfast in supplying uninterrupted fuel to the Nigerian market even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East drove sharp increases in crude oil prices, freight rates, and insurance costs.

According to him, the global oil market has seen an extraordinary surge within a short time.

“Just a week ago, oil was trading in the mid‑$60 range, and it has now climbed to nearly $120 per barrel,” he said, adding that the shock has affected every segment of the world’s energy supply chain.

Bird explained that, like all players in the global refining industry, Dangote Refinery was exposed to fluctuations in crude prices, freight charges, and insurance premiums.

He, however, stressed that Nigeria was enjoying a critical advantage in terms of supply security made possible by domestic refining capacity.

“What would be worse than $120 oil is no oil,” he stated, pointing out that some countries are already implementing rationing because they rely completely on imports.

He added that several nations with significant refining capacity had begun restricting fuel exports to safeguard local supply amid the ongoing global supply shock.

Bird emphasized that as long as the refinery continued to receive Nigerian crude through the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), it would sustain its supply to the domestic market.

“With government support and steady access to domestic crude, Dangote Refinery will continue to meet all of Nigeria’s refined fuel requirements,” he assured.

He said that the refinery was running at its full nameplate capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day—making it one of the world’s largest single‑train refineries. The facility can produce between 50 million and 55 million litres of petrol daily, with the ability to increase output through blending if needed.

Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption is estimated at 35 million litres, Bird noted, underscoring that the refinery has more than enough capacity to meet national demand.

He further stated that the refinery was prioritising supply to the Nigerian market to guarantee what he described as “fuel abundance. We will ensure that Nigeria enjoys fuel abundance, not fuel scarcity,” Bird affirmed.

However, he cautioned that pricing would still be influenced by global market conditions, as crude used by the refinery was purchased at international benchmark rates even under the crude‑for‑naira arrangement.

“Pricing is determined largely by global commodity markets,” he explained, adding that decisions about fuel price interventions rest with the government.

Bird concluded by noting that the refinery, which commenced sustained operations in early 2024, had significantly improved performance following maintenance and optimisation activities carried out earlier in the year.