The Port of Lamu in Kenya received its second shipment of heavy machinery for the $17 billion Dangote East African Refinery project.
A total of 154 pieces of equipment arrived, following a previous delivery of nearly 3,000 metric tonnes in late September.
The refinery, officially launched on September 30, is set to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily for Kenya and the wider East African region.
The project aims to produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and will include petrochemical, fertiliser facilities, and a 1,000-megawatt power plant. #Lamu #Dangote

Rema was once asked if he had ever met someone who made him feel poor.

And he shared his experience with Aliko Dangote who is worth $51.3 Billion.

Rema had actually sat down with Dangote. But he said Dangote did not make him feel poor at all — the meeting felt normal.

When they first met, they ate from the same plate. There were no flashy watches or crazy displays of wealth. Rema remembered Dangote as humble, smart, and wise.

Rema shared this on "Rich Tea" a popular street-interview podcast hosted by the UK presenter Rambo.

Dangote did not need to show off his money for people to know he was rich.

And this seems to be more than just one meeting.

Dangote has said he sold his homes in the United States and the United Kingdom because he wanted to focus on his work in Nigeria. He said owning holiday homes gave him more things to worry about, while staying in hotels gave him a simpler life.

Davido has shared a similar story about him. He said Dangote often told him, “save your money,” and said the billionaire still drove a 2005 G-Wagon despite having so much money.

Dangote seems to see wealth as something useful, not something that must always be shown.

He can buy expensive things, but being able to buy something does not mean it is worth buying.

He can own more things, but more things can also mean more problems and more things to think about.

#Nigeria #Dangote

Aliko Dangote’s journey to becoming one of Africa’s richest men started when he was just 19.

He first spent a year working in his uncle’s transport business in Kano.

Then his grandfather, Sanusi Dantata, gave him three trucks and told him to start his own business.

In 1976, Dangote went to Lagos to collect ₦18,000 ($29,000 at the time) he had lent to his uncle, Usman Dantata.

His uncle did not have the cash, so he gave Dangote bags of cement instead.

Dangote sold the cement and made ₦6,000 ($9,700) on top of the money he was owed.

That was when he saw that business in Lagos moved much faster than in the North.

So he stayed.

His uncle gave him two trucks of cement to sell. Dangote added ₦50,000 ($80,600) of his own money and borrowed another ₦50,000 ($80,600) from his grandfather.

Soon, he was making about ₦2,500 ($4,000) a day.

What started as a debt that was paid in cement became the first step toward an empire now worth tens of billions of dollars.

Source: Aliko Dangote's 1991 interview with Citizen magazine.

#Dangote #Nigeria

Samaila Zubairu proposed a major refinery project in Kenya to Aliko Dangote, aligning with President Ruto's ambition and leading to a planned $17 billion investment in Lamu.

Zubairu has close professional ties to Dangote from years as CFO at Dangote Cement and later as CEO of Africa Finance Corporation.

The Lamu refinery project initially considered Tanzania before settling on Lamu and is now one of East Africa’s most ambitious planned industrial investments.

The refinery aims to process about 700,000 barrels of crude daily, targeting completion by 2030 to reduce regional fuel costs and dependency on imported refined products. #Dangote

Aliko Dangote has given a 40-month timeline for completion of the Sh2 trillion East African Refinery in Lamu, challenging the project to replicate the success of his Lekki refinery in Nigeria.

Dangote says his company is not intimidated by the prospect of legal action, asserting that they are prepared to confront anyone seeking to create trouble.

He says those who attempt to cause disruptions should be prepared for a strong response. #Dangote #Lamu

It has emerged that key documents, including the signed agreement for Dangote’s Sh2.2 trillion Lamu refinery, have not been made public as required by Kenyan law, despite Wednesday’s groundbreaking.

A Sh2.2 trillion project cannot be launched under a cloud of secrecy. Kenyans deserve the signed agreement, financing terms, public guarantees and environmental assessments. If the deal is good for Kenya, why hide the documents? #Lamu #Dangote #WilliamRuto

Aliko Dangote promises to set up a training school for 1,000 Lamu residents, guarantees jobs to those with engineering degrees or diplomas at the East Africa Oil Refinery. #Lamu #Dangote

🚨 LAMU REFINERY: SHOW KENYANS THE ARITHMETIC

A 700,000-barrel-a-day refinery sounds spectacular.

But before the politicians arrive for the groundbreaking ceremony, there is one simple question:

WHERE WILL THE CRUDE COME FROM?

Kenya’s own crude production is nowhere near 700,000 barrels a day.

Uganda’s crude is linked to the Tanzania export route.

South Sudan already has established export arrangements and its own infrastructure challenges.

So how exactly does a 700,000-bpd refinery in Lamu secure enough crude — consistently and cheaply?

The answer appears to be imports.

And that creates another question:

At what cost?

Yes, Nigeria and India import crude.

But Nigeria is an oil-producing country.

India is located much closer to major Middle Eastern oil suppliers.

Kenya is not.

Every additional kilometre means additional logistics, freight, insurance and handling costs.

And a refinery doesn’t survive because it is big.

It survives because it can obtain cheap crude, move it efficiently, sell its products into a sufficiently large market and make money after all costs.

So let’s stop selling Kenyans the dream and start showing them the numbers.

Where will the 700,000 barrels come from?

What will each barrel cost when it reaches Lamu?

Who will buy the refined products?

What guarantees the refinery will operate at high utilisation?

Who is financing the project?

Who carries the losses if the economics don’t work?

Because when politicians are standing on the podium, everyone celebrates.

When contractors are getting contracts, everyone smiles.

But if the project eventually becomes commercially unsustainable, who ultimately carries the financial risk?

This is not about being pro-Dangote or anti-Dangote.

It is about Kenyan taxpayers demanding the numbers before committing to a project of this magnitude.

A groundbreaking ceremony is not a business model.

Show us the crude.
Show us the price.
Show us the market.
Show us the financing.
Show us the contracts.
Show us who carries the risk.

Kenya deserves the arithmetic before the applause.

#Kenya #Dangote #Lamu

𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐄’𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐘: 𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒

Aliko Dangote says his proposed Lamu refinery could become one of East Africa's biggest corporate projects — and he wants it listed in Kenya.

Dangote has played down the ongoing land dispute surrounding the project, describing legal challenges as something his businesses have encountered elsewhere in Africa.

The Malindi Environment and Land Court has ordered the status quo to be maintained over LR No. 13061 until October 14, while declining to stop the refinery groundbreaking.

Dangote says the refinery should eventually be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, arguing that African businesses should increasingly use African capital markets.

He also says the project could generate about 1,000MW of electricity.

According to his description, approximately 500MW would be used internally and kept as reserve, while another 500MW could potentially be sold to the Kenyan government under an agreement.

Dangote also made a comparison with Uganda's proposed refinery in Hoima, which is planned at 60,000 barrels per day and involves Alpha MBM Investments and Uganda's UNOC.

He said he expects the Lamu project to move faster and warned African governments about investors who announce ambitious projects but fail to execute them.

There is still a major distinction between what has been announced, what has been legally cleared, what has been financed and what has actually been built.

For Kenya, the Lamu project could therefore become significant if the plans move from announcements to execution.

The coming years will show how much of Dangote's vision becomes reality.

#Lamu #Dangote

Court Declines to Stop Dangote’s Sh2.2 Trillion Lamu Refinery

A court in Malindi has declined to stop the planned groundbreaking of Dangote’s proposed Sh2.2 trillion oil refinery in Lamu.

The ruling followed a case filed by 133 Chandavai residents, who are challenging the development over alleged land rights, displacement and compensation concerns.

Environment and Land Court Judge Jane Onyango ordered parties to maintain the existing status quo on LR No. 13061 until October 14, when the case will be heard between the parties.

The residents had sought orders stopping the groundbreaking and development of the refinery, but the court did not grant that request.

President William Ruto is expected to preside over the planned groundbreaking on September 30. #Lamu #Dangote

🚨 Fresh Setback for Dangote’s KSh 2 Trillion Lamu Refinery

Aliko Dangote is facing a legal challenge in Kenya over plans for a proposed KSh 2 trillion oil refinery in Lamu County.

More than 130 residents of Chandavai, Lamu County, have moved to court seeking to stop the planned development, arguing that the project threatens land their families have occupied and cultivated for generations.

The residents claim they face displacement without a clear resettlement plan or compensation, and are challenging what they describe as an unlawful takeover and destruction of their ancestral land.

The development comes as preparations continue for the planned September 30 groundbreaking ceremony.

The court case could therefore become a significant issue for the project, particularly over land ownership, compensation, resettlement and community rights.

What do you think? Can a major investment proceed if the local community says its land rights have not been addressed? #Dangote #Lamu

Dangote's East Africa refinery project in Kenya is advancing, with nearly 3,000 metric tonnes of equipment arriving at Lamu Port.

The project, valued at $15 billion, aims to make Lamu a major energy and logistics hub for Kenya and the surrounding region.

The refinery will process crude oil from Kenya's Turkana County and other African sources, potentially turning Lamu into a regional petroleum logistics center.

When completed, the facility could become East Africa's largest refinery, capable of processing up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. #Nigeria #Dangote #Lamu

Ethiopia, Djibouti and Nigeria’s Dangote Group have announced a 120-kilometre pipeline that will transport refined petroleum products from Damerjog in Djibouti to Dewele in Ethiopia. 🇪🇹 🇩🇯

The project will include storage terminals at both ends with a combined capacity of more than one million cubic metres, helping Ethiopia reduce its dependence on long-distance fuel transportation by road.

The development is being led by Ethiopian Investment Holdings and the Dangote Group. Officials say it is designed to cut transport costs and delays while strengthening fuel security along the Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor.

The full project has been reported at about $660 million, with developers targeting completion within roughly 18 months.

#Ethiopia #Djibouti #Dangote

Ethiopia, Djibouti and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote are planning a $660 million refined petroleum pipeline linking the two countries, in a major infrastructure project aimed at strengthening East Africa’s energy supply.

The project will include a 120-kilometre pipeline and massive fuel storage facilities capable of holding about 1.175 million cubic metres combined. It is expected to become operational within 18 months.

The pipeline is designed to reduce transport costs and delays along the vital Ethiopia–Djibouti corridor, while improving energy security and supply-chain resilience.

The project will be developed through a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and Dangote Group, adding to Dangote’s growing investments in Ethiopia and across Africa.

Dangote and Kenya are also expected to break ground next week on a proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu.

From Nigeria to East Africa, Dangote is increasingly building an industrial footprint across the continent.

#Ethiopia #Djibouti #Dangote

President William Ruto is set to lead a groundbreaking ceremony next week for the $15 billion East Africa Refinery in Lamu County, backed by Dangote Industries CEO Aliko Dangote, according to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

The announcement follows a meeting between Ruto and Dangote on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Kindiki saying the project is expected to create about 50,000 jobs and reduce foreign exchange pressure from oil imports. Kindiki added the refinery would also support Kenya's own commercial oil production, expected to begin by December 2026. #Dangote #Lamu

Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote plans to take his fertiliser business to the stock market in 2028, meaning members of the public would be able to buy shares in the business.🇳🇬

The Dangote Fertiliser plant in Lagos is Africa’s largest granulated urea fertiliser complex.

The $2.5 billion facility has the capacity to produce up to 3 million tonnes of urea fertiliser every year.

Dangote says the company is also expanding its fertiliser operations across Africa, with plans to increase production and eventually supply more than 40% of the continent’s fertiliser demand.

The planned IPO would give investors an opportunity to own a stake in one of Dangote’s major businesses.

Dangote’s group continues expanding beyond cement and into industries including fertiliser, oil refining and petrochemicals.

The fertiliser business is expected to be listed in 2028.

#Nigeria #Dangote

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote Declares He’d Sacrifice His Life to Save Africa “This Continent Must Reach the Promised Land” - In a powerful new interview with Al Jazeera’s Talk to Al Jazeera, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, delivered one of his most passionate statements yet on the continent’s future.

“I would rather save my continent at the expense of even my life. This continent must get to the promised land. People will eventually stop taking our raw materials they must produce in our own continent,” Dangote said.

The billionaire industrialist, President of the Dangote Group, framed his massive investments including the landmark $20 billion Dangote Refinery as part of a larger mission: ending Africa’s role as a mere exporter of raw materials and importer of finished goods.

Dangote argued that shipping unprocessed resources abroad simply exports jobs and imports poverty. He insisted Africans must take the lead in processing, refining, and manufacturing on the continent itself so that value is retained at home.

The comments come as Dangote continues to push for greater energy independence, local industrialisation, and a shift away from over-reliance on foreign investment and imports. He has repeatedly said Africa can no longer wait for outsiders to develop it Africans must lead, and others will follow.

The full interview also covers the challenges of building the refinery, plans to expand capacity, listing the company to create broader wealth, and his rejection of monopoly accusations, saying his goal is simply to make Africa great and self-sufficient.

Dangote’s words are already resonating widely across social media as a bold call for African economic sovereignty. #Dangote #Africa

An Indian state-owned engineering firm, Engineers India Limited, has secured a Sh58 billion consultancy contract for Dangote Group’s planned refinery in Lamu, Kenya.

They will provide engineering and project management services for the refinery. #Lamu #Dangote

Kenya plans to begin construction of a $15 billion oil refinery in Lamu, following talks between President William Ruto, Aliko Dangote, and Africa Finance Corporation.

The refinery, expected to process 700,000 barrels per day, aims to boost East Africa's energy security and create jobs.

The project location shifted from Tanzania and then Mombasa to Lamu, leveraging the LAPSSET corridor and proximity to the Indian Ocean.

Kenya currently imports most of its refined petroleum, with the Lamu refinery intended to reduce regional dependence on imports. #Dangote

Kenya is set to break ground on the East Africa Refinery in Lamu, as the government advances plans to strengthen regional energy security, create jobs and boost industrialisation.
President William Ruto held talks with Dangote Industries CEO Aliko Dangote and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) CEO Samaila Zubairu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where they discussed the project's financing and final preparations for its commencement.
The refinery is expected to enhance local value addition, unlock economic opportunities and position East Africa as a competitive energy and industrial hub. #Dangote #USA #WilliamRuto

Dangote: I Had My First Private Aircraft at 22

I bought my first aircraft four months before I turned 23. I’ve seen it all. Whenever I see people flying everywhere in private aircraft but they don’t own a factory, it means they aren’t contributing to the economy.

Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Industries Limited

#Dangote #Nigeria

NIGERIA: Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote just crashed the world’s top 40 richest list - Forbes now has Aliko Dangote at $51.3 billion. That puts him 36th richest in the world as of September 14, 2026.

A few weeks ago he was around 76th, worth about $31 billion. Then Forbes repriced his Lagos refinery after a $2.5 billion private placement in July. That one move added roughly $20 billion to his fortune. He didn’t sell those shares. The plant just got a market price, and his stake is now valued like a $42 billion company.

Same day, the refinery opened Africa’s biggest IPO: 4.1 billion shares at ₦525 each. Apps reportedly buckled under demand. If the sale goes well, he could get even richer. Bloomberg is more cautious for now ($35.3 billion) but says he could hit $58 billion when the offer wraps.

He’s still Africa’s richest by a mile. The other top Nigerian billionaires combined don’t come close. #Dangote #Nigeria

Aliko Dangote has revealed that he acquired his first private jet at the age of 22 and a half while reflecting on his journey as a businessman.
Dangote made the disclosure on Monday at the Nigerian Exchange in Lagos during the formal launch of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
Speaking about his career, the billionaire businessman said he had enjoyed the journey and was now more interested in seeing wealth directed toward productive investments.
“My career as a businessman, I really had a great time. I was telling somebody that right now I don’t mind, I can take commercial, I can take anything. I had my first private jet at 22 and a half years old,” Dangote said.
He also urged wealthy Nigerians who spend heavily on private aircraft to consider investing more in productive ventures that can contribute to the country’s economic development.
“I try as much as I can to encourage people who are riding $900 million aircraft to please go and put that into production. We are not going to be a great nation without doing something productive,” he said #Nigeria #Dangote

🇳🇬 Dangote Refinery Launches ₦2.15 Trillion Share Offer

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has kicked off a massive ₦2.15 trillion share offer, giving Nigerians and investors an opportunity to own a stake in one of Africa’s biggest refineries.

The offer could mark a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector and the country’s capital markets. 📈

Would you invest in Dangote Refinery if you had the opportunity?

#Nigeria #Dangote

A Federal High Court in Lagos has extended an order barring Nigeria's petroleum regulator from entering, sealing or otherwise interfering with Aliko Dangote's oil refinery, four days before the company opens the largest share sale in African history.

Justice Akintayo Aluko extended the order on Sept. 9 after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority asked him to discharge it, arguing the refinery had obtained it by misrepresenting facts and challenging his jurisdiction.

He ruled the Aug. 31 order remains in force until the motion on notice is heard. The refinery opens its offer of 4.1 billion shares at 525 naira each on Sept. 14. #Nigeria #Dangote

Dangote Industries is planning a 1,000MW LNG power plant in Lamu, Kenya, as part of its proposed oil refinery project.

The plant would use LNG supplied from Tanzania and could provide a major new source of electricity for Kenya if completed. #Dangote #Lamu

Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to raise Sh207 billion through an IPO of 4.1 billion shares at about Sh50 per share, valuing the company at about Sh6.4 trillion.

The offer opens on September 14 and closes on October 13, 2026.

The shares will be listed on the Nigerian Exchange, with possible cross-listings in South Africa, Kenya and other African markets. #Dangote #Nigeria

Dangote secures Sh130 billion underwriting package for proposed Lamu refinery

Plans for a major oil refinery in Lamu have received a major financing boost after Dangote secured underwriting commitments worth about Sh130 billion, equivalent to roughly $1 billion.

The package includes approximately $600 million in private-placement funding and another $400 million linked to a planned initial public offering.

The refinery is expected to have capacity of about 30,000 barrels per day and could supply Kenya and neighbouring markets including Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Kenyan government has allocated land for the project in Lamu. #Lamu #Dangote

Dangote Refinery Secures $400 Million Backing Ahead of Proposed IPO

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has secured a $400 million underwriting commitment as it moves forward with plans to raise additional capital through a major initial public offering (IPO).

The commitment forms part of a broader $1 billion funding programme, following a separate $600 million private placement involving pan-African investors.

The company is preparing for an IPO that could raise as much as **$2 billion** on the Nigerian Exchange, with a potential secondary listing in Johannesburg also under consideration. Investors from Kenya are expected to form part of the wider African participation in the offering. #Nigeria #Dangote

Located in Nigeria’s Lekki Free Zone, the refinery was developed by Nigerian businessman **Aliko Dangote** and has a current processing capacity of approximately 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The company has also outlined ambitions to increase capacity to around 1.4 million barrels per day, which would further strengthen its position in Africa’s energy and petroleum markets.

The proposed IPO could provide investors with an opportunity to participate in one of Africa’s largest industrial and energy projects, while the planned expansion could boost the refinery’s ability to supply fuel to domestic and international markets.

The development also signals continued investor confidence in Dangote’s long-term strategy and the growing importance of Africa’s energy infrastructure.

Aliko Dangote will borrow about $11.2 billion to build his proposed oil refinery at Lamu, and says the plant cannot compete with imported fuel unless the Kenyan government shields it.

The Nigerian billionaire put the financing split at 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity on a project he now costs at $16 billion, down from an earlier estimate of $17 billion after his team concluded the plant could be finished in four years.
Construction is expected to begin by October, with the refinery designed to process 700,000 barrels a day, exceeding the 650,000 handled at Lagos and ranking as East Africa's largest.

Dangote said President William Ruto would need to provide land, mobilise regional financing and protect the plant against what he described as the dumping of cheap products from Russia and India, warning that no refinery in the world can survive without that protection, and Ruto has said Kenya will invest through the National Infrastructure Fund without specifying the size of the stake.

Feedstock would come from Uganda's oil fields through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, alongside future Turkana output and imported crude through the Port of Lamu, and Dangote said the plant would supply markets across eastern and northern Africa including Egypt.

The Kenyan announcement lands as Dangote prepares to list the Nigerian refinery, and Forbes puts his net worth at $28.5 billion, built on cement, sugar, fertiliser and oil refining. #Lamu #Dangote #Forbes

Dangote Confirms Lamu Refinery Construction Starts October 2026

The project, part of the LAPSSET corridor, will process 700,000 barrels per day for Kenya and neighboring countries, cutting reliance on imported fuel.

Preparations are advanced, with site work underway and costs reduced as timelines solidify; construction kicks off in October with a four-year build.

Amid Tanzania and Uganda's rival Tanga hub plans, discussions weigh regional competition against complementary markets and Kenya's infrastructure edge. #Dangote #Lamu