Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disowned a widely circulated video claiming it partnered with a company to deliver petrol to motorists using dispatch riders. Company officials told our correspondent on Sunday that the refinery has no affiliation with the video and is unaware of its source.
The clip, which trended across social media platforms, shows a man ordering petrol via WhatsApp to avoid fuel queues. A motorcycle rider later appears with a compact dispensing device mounted on the bike and proceeds to fill the customer’s vehicle. The promotional material, branded as FuelUp, alleged that the service was “powered by Dangote Petroleum,” prompting both praise and concern among viewers. Some users suggested the footage might have been created using artificial intelligence.
Dangote, however, dismissed the claim outright. The Group Chief Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, described the content as “fake,” stressing that the company has no involvement in such an initiative. Another official reiterated that the refinery supplies fuel strictly to bulk buyers and has not entered any agreement to distribute petrol through dispatch riders.
The clarification comes amid recent changes in Dangote’s distribution strategy. In September, the refinery deployed hundreds of Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks to support its direct fuel distribution scheme. It also moved ahead with an ambitious plan to expand capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, a scale-up expected to significantly boost local fuel supply.
Situated in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, the refinery is one of the world’s largest integrated facilities. In recent months, the company has invested in cleaner energy systems, automated processing technologies, and improved logistics infrastructure aimed at enhancing efficiency and environmental compliance.
According to Dangote officials, the ongoing expansion is part of a broader strategy to meet Nigeria’s rising fuel demand, strengthen regional market competitiveness, and promote long-term sustainability within the country’s oil and gas sector.