Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa State as a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial development.
The former Nigerian leader spoke on Monday while flagging off the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) at the massive complex in Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
While performing the symbolic erection of the CDU, which marked a significant milestone towards completion of the petroleum refining project, Chief Obasanjo commended the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, for his extraordinary vision, entrepreneurial courage and monumental investment in the development of the $1 billion refinery.
He expressed satisfaction with the transformation of the refinery site since his earlier visit eight years ago, when he laid the foundation for the industrial complex.
He also applauded Eruani’s determination and commitment to indigenous petroleum refining investment.
The Azikel Refinery is being developed as a full-scale petroleum refinery designed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel, and other refined petroleum products.
The Azikel Refinery is the Nigeria’s second-largest private full-scale refinery with petrol production alongside other petroleum products, with production output of 2,500,000L of petrol daily and 2,000,000L of diesel daily.
Obasanjo commended the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for their financial support towards development of the refinery, and urged both institutions to sustain their commitment through successful completion.
He emphasised continued cooperation among the project sponsors, financiers, engineers and contractors to bring the refinery into operation.
Similarly, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, described the project as an industrial revolution for the state and the Niger Delta region.
The Bayelsa governor commended Eruani and the Azikel Group for the massive refinery investment, noting that it represents a shift from reliance on crude oil extraction towards local processing, value addition and industrial participation.
He said the project had the potential for employment, technical skills development and economic diversification, and encouraged Bayelsa youths to prepare for the emerging opportunities.
President of the Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, in his remarks, said the refinery would contribute to Nigeria’s domestic petroleum refining capacity upon completion.
He stated that the project would strengthen domestic petroleum product supply, promote local value addition, generate employment and stimulate investment in engineering, logistics, transportation and industrial services.
The Azikel president noted that the CDU is a principal component of the refinery’s processing infrastructure, responsible for separating crude oil into fractions for further processing into marketable petroleum products.
“Its symbolic erection represents a significant construction milestone, marking the completion phase of the refinery construction,” Eruani said.
He expressed appreciation to the former President for returning to the refinery site eight years after participating in its foundation-laying ceremony to mark the completion phase of the refinery.
He said the project was conceived to help transform the Niger Delta from a region primarily associated with crude oil production and exportation into a centre of petroleum refining and industrial value creation.
Eruani reaffirmed Azikel Group’s commitment to completing the refinery and thanked President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and for supporting the Azikel Refinery.
He thanked Governor Diri, the Bayelsa State Government, Afreximbank, AFC, technical partners, contractors and engineering teams for their contributions.
