President William Ruto has credited Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote with addressing longstanding fuel supply challenges in Nigeria through private investment, as he called for the development of a similar refinery model in East Africa.

Speaking at an infrastructure summit in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Kenyan leader said Nigeria’s experience demonstrated that African countries possess the capacity to resolve their own energy challenges without relying on external solutions.

He noted that despite decades of oil production, Nigeria struggled with persistent fuel shortages, often marked by long queues at filling stations, until the establishment of the Dangote Refinery.

Ruto urged policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders across the region to collaborate in building refining capacity within Africa, stressing that the continent has the leadership, capital and expertise required to drive such projects.

Dangote, who attended the summit, expressed willingness to support the proposed East African refinery initiative, contingent on strong backing from regional governments.

Nigeria’s refining sector has long faced challenges, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited undertaking multiple rehabilitation efforts on state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna with limited success.

The development of privately owned refining capacity has been seen as a major shift in the sector, although analysts note that fuel supply constraints and pricing pressures have not been fully resolved, with pump prices remaining elevated for consumers.

Ruto’s remarks form part of a broader push for African-led industrialisation strategies aimed at reducing dependence on imported petroleum products and strengthening regional energy security.