Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the Dangote Refinery proves that Africa has the capacity to execute major projects on a massive scale. He made the remarks during a visit to the facility in Lekki.

The governor spoke as part of the Lagos-New York 2026 Learning Journey hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

Reflecting on the development of the Lekki corridor, he noted that the land where the refinery now stands was once open water that had to be reclaimed.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted the refinery’s production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day as clear evidence of what can be achieved.

He thanked Aliko Dangote for investing in Lagos and acknowledged the organisations that supported the learning programme.

The governor said discussions about scale are especially relevant to Lagos, a city of more than 25 million people that is already facing many of the challenges Africa will confront in the coming decades. He stressed that his administration is working to create an environment where future investors can build more easily.

Sanwo-Olu pointed to projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Free Zone, the Blue Line rail and an upcoming airport as part of efforts to integrate infrastructure in the area. He urged participants to turn conversations about Africa’s future into concrete partnerships, saying the continent is already building and does not need permission to do so.

Photo credit: TVC News