Bolaji Idowu
The Dangote Refinery project gained unexpected momentum after the Ooni of Ife intervened to clear traditional obstacles at the construction site, a move Aliko Dangote says played a decisive role in the facility’s eventual development. The businessman disclosed that work had stalled in Ibeju-Lekki because the land hosted several long standing shrines that no contractor was willing to disturb.
In a video released on Friday, Dangote explained that the presence of the shrines created a major setback for his team. According to him, workers could not begin foundational work because the community resisted any attempt to enter or clear the area.
He recounted that the situation changed only after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, visited the site and instructed that all nineteen shrines be removed. Dangote said the monarch’s firm stance surprised both community members and project personnel.
He added that the Ooni did not hesitate to confront the cultural and spiritual concerns surrounding the location. Dangote made it clear that without this bold intervention, the construction of the refinery could have remained stalled.
The refinery, situated within the Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, is now recognised as the world’s largest single train refinery with a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. Despite securing the land for 100 million dollars from the Lagos State Government, the industrialist noted that the shrine-related conflicts created significant delays at the early stages of the project.