Dangote made the allegation as concerns over land ownership, compensation and the environmental impact of the project continue to generate protests and legal challenges from some residents of the coastal region.
The billionaire spoke to the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme shortly after he joined Kenyan President William Ruto for the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery on Wednesday.
The ceremony marked a major step towards the development of the proposed facility, which is projected to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day when completed in 2030.
However, the ceremony took place against the backdrop of a court order restricting construction activities on the disputed land following a legal challenge by residents.
Dangote rejected claims that his company had acquired or occupied more land than was required for the refinery, maintaining that the project was being developed on the portion of land allocated to it by the Kenyan Government.
He also questioned the motivation behind demonstrations by some residents opposed to the project.
“They said some people are demonstrating; demonstrating about what? Have you ever seen people demonstrating against themselves in terms of development?” he asked.
Dangote described the protests as “games played by local marketers and international players” and insisted that opposition to the project would not derail its construction.
He said the refinery remained on course for completion in 2030 and described the Lamu project as his largest proposed investment outside Nigeria.
The groundbreaking ceremony attracted several African leaders, including the presidents of Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo and Benin.
According to Reuters, Dangote has offered regional governments a combined 30 per cent stake in the proposed refinery, in a move that could give neighbouring countries a direct interest in the project and its expected economic benefits.
Once completed, the refinery is projected to become the largest refinery in East Africa and one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Kenya since independence.
Its estimated $16bn cost would also place it well above the $5.1bn Standard Gauge Railway, making it the biggest infrastructure investment in the country’s post-independence history.
Dangote said the project was designed to demonstrate that the success of his 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Nigeria could be replicated in other parts of Africa.
“Lekki proved that it can be done, Lamu must prove that it can be repeated,” he said.
The proposed development, however, has faced opposition from environmental campaigners and members of the Lamu community.
The Save Lamu campaign group has raised concerns about the potential environmental consequences of the refinery and its impact on communities whose livelihoods are linked to the area.
Walid Ali, co-founder of the group, told the BBC that residents wanted greater transparency, particularly access to the environmental impact assessment and details of the measures proposed to mitigate any damage arising from the project.
The dispute has also moved into the courts.
A group of 133 Lamu residents approached the Kenyan High Court seeking to halt construction activities, citing concerns surrounding the disputed land.
Following the legal action, activities including excavation and construction on the land have been restricted pending further proceedings. The next court hearing has been scheduled for October 14.
Despite the legal challenge, Dangote has maintained that the project will proceed and has highlighted the potential economic benefits for the local community and Kenya as a whole.
He said construction of the refinery could create about 60,000 jobs at its peak, with residents of surrounding communities expected to benefit from employment and other economic opportunities.
The refinery project is also expected to feature a 1,000-megawatt power plant. According to Dangote, the facility would provide electricity for the refinery’s operations while also supporting other industries that are expected to establish businesses around the project.
If completed as planned, the Lamu refinery would significantly expand Dangote’s footprint in Africa’s energy sector and extend the group’s refining ambitions beyond Nigeria, where its 700,000-barrel-per-day facility in Lagos has become a major component of the country’s petroleum industry.
For now, however, the project faces the twin challenges of legal proceedings over the disputed land and opposition from sections of the local community, even as Dangote maintains that the refinery will be delivered by 2030.