Dangote Names Refinery Access Road After Tinubu, Applauds President’s Reform Agenda

In a symbolic gesture of recognition, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Thursday, June 5, 2025 named the main road leading to the Dangote Refinery Complex in Lagos “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road”, in honour of Nigeria’s President. The announcement was made during the commissioning of the newly completed access road to the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

Dangote praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a “courageous” and “ambitious” reformer whose administration has reignited investor confidence and repositioned the country’s economic trajectory.

“Mr. President, let me just say one thing — the main road going into our refinery is now going to be called Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road,” Dangote declared, as the crowd of dignitaries applauded and President Tinubu stood to shake hands with him.

The event marked President Tinubu’s first official visit to the Dangote Refinery.

During the visit, the President also commissioned the concrete road leading to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and flagged off Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Superhighway, as well as the 25-kilometre Seventh Axial Road, which links the port, Free Trade Zone, and the refinery to the Sagamu–Benin Expressway via Ijebu-Ode.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dangote highlighted the group’s commitment to infrastructure development, disclosing that Dangote Group is investing N900 billion in road construction projects across the country, despite paying N450 billion in taxes in the previous year. The port access road, he revealed, is one of eight major road projects totaling 500km, including two in Borno State that will connect Nigeria to Chad and Cameroon.

Praising Tinubu’s bold reform agenda, Dangote noted that the administration’s policy decisions — including the removal of fuel subsidies, the unification of the naira exchange rate, and the Nigeria First policy — are laying the foundation for long-term growth and self-sufficiency.

“Your leadership has been both decisive and reassuring. From the start, Your Excellency has worked tirelessly to foster an enabling environment for private sector-led growth,” he said.

“This vision has led to far-reaching reforms: the removal of fuel subsidies, deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector, the drive to increase crude oil production, and the comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax regime.”

Dangote particularly praised the newly introduced Nigeria First policy, which prioritizes local production and economic self-reliance.

“We all have to align with this ‘Nigeria First’ policy. In America, they do ‘America First.’ But here in Africa, you are the first to say ‘Nigeria First’—and this is highly commendable,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the reforms under Tinubu’s administration would catalyze greater industrial activity and attract broader private investment.

“With continued collaboration and shared resolve, we are confident that the journey ahead will usher in even greater opportunities for our people and our country under your courageous and ambitious leadership.”

The newly named Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road serves as a vital logistics corridor, stretching from Eleko Junction through the Epe–Ijebu Ode axis and connecting to the Sagamu–Benin Expressway. It forms part of a strategic transport network supporting Nigeria’s largest industrial hub, including the Dangote Refinery, Dangote Fertiliser Plant, and the Lekki Free Trade Zone.