I was pleased to visit the Azikel Refinery in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and to see first-hand the progress being made on this important project.
During my visit and inspection of the Refinery, I commended the scale, vision and strategic importance of the project, describing Azikel Refinery as a hub of the new industrialisation of the Niger Delta and the South-South region of Nigeria.
I also highlighted the significance of the Refinery as a major privately developed refining project designed to produce a full slate of refined petroleum products, including petrol, and contribute to Nigeria’s drive for greater domestic refining capacity, energy security, industrial development and economic diversification.
I also particularly commended the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Eruani Azibapu CFR, for his vision, resilience and substantial investment in developing the Refinery and for championing private-sector-led industrialisation in the Niger Delta. Projects such as the Azikel Refinery, alongside other private sector initiatives like the Dangote Refinery, are important steps towards greater local content, self-reliance and energy security for Nigeria.
Investments of this magnitude demonstrate the enormous potential of the Niger Delta to evolve beyond its traditional role as a source of crude oil into a major centre for value addition, refining, manufacturing, employment creation and industrial development.
I also acknowledged the efforts of Mr Samaila Zubairu, the President of AFC and the Board of AFC for the important role of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), as well as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and its President, George Elombi and the Board for their financial and institutional support towards the development and actualisation of the Azikel Refinery project.
The Azikel Group has remained consistent: to build world-class industrial infrastructure from the Niger Delta, add value to Nigeria’s natural resources, create sustainable employment and contribute meaningfully to the economic transformation of Nigeria and Africa.
