Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has congratulated Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery reached its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), Otedola said on Thursday.

The refinery reached full nameplate capacity following the restoration and optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit and Motor Spirit production block, the company said. The milestone reflects a key phase in the operations of Africa’s largest oil refining facility.

In a statement shared on his verified X handle, Otedola described the refinery’s achievement as a landmark development for Nigeria and the African continent.

He congratulated Dangote on the operational milestone and highlighted the refinery’s ability to supply up to 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit per day now that the units are fully stabilised.

Otedola also noted that the commencement of large-scale domestic refining, after decades of reliance on imported petroleum products, is expected to ease pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

He said that Dangote has begun plans to expand the refinery’s capacity and related petrochemical production, including additional refining operations and chemical output projects, according to his statement.

Otedola’s remarks followed the company’s statement that the refinery’s management commenced a 72-hour intensive performance test run in collaboration with its technology licensor to validate operational stability and compliance with global standards.