Nigeria's former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has praised the progress on the Azikel Refinery in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He sees the project as a key part of industrial growth in the Niger Delta.
Mr Jonathan spoke after visiting the refinery to check on how the privately funded project is going.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, the former president talked about the size and vision of the refinery. He called it a "hub of the new industrialisation" for the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s South-south region.
Former Goodluck Jonathan at the Azikel Refinery
“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,” Mr Jonathan said.
He mentioned that the refinery is set to produce a wide range of refined oil products, including petrol. This will help Nigeria increase its refining capacity, improve energy security, support industrial growth, and diversify the economy.
Mr Jonathan also praised the President of Azikel Group, Eruani Azibapu, for his vision and investment in the project. He highlighted Mr Eruani's role in promoting private sector growth in the Niger Delta.
In August, Mr Eruani explained that the refinery was licensed in 2015. Since then, it has been redesigned, increasing its processing capacity to 25,000 barrels per day. The total investment in the project has now reached about $1 billion.
The Azikel Refinery was licensed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. It has undergone several upgrades, now capable of processing 25,000 barrels per day.
The refinery is a hydro-skimming facility. It can produce Premium Motor Spirit, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas, with plans to increase capacity to 125,000 barrels per day in the future.
This refinery aims to make Bayelsa State a major industrial centre. It will create jobs and boost economic growth in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
After his visit, Mr Jonathan said projects like the Azikel Refinery and the Dangote Refinery are important for local content, self-reliance, and energy security in Nigeria.
He believes investments like these show that the Niger Delta can move beyond just being an oil-producing area to becoming a key centre for refining, manufacturing, job creation, and industrial growth.
The former president also recognized the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for their support in developing the refinery.
He thanked AFC President Samaila Zubairu and the board, as well as Afreximbank President George Elombi and the bank’s board, for their financial help with the project.
Mr Jonathan said the Azikel Group's focus on building industrial infrastructure in the Niger Delta will help Nigeria’s natural resources create jobs and transform the economy.
He added that such investments could also help broader industrial growth across Africa by boosting local production and creating economic opportunities.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇