Nigeria has taken a significant step toward economic diversification as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery begins exporting gasoline (petrol) to Asian markets for the first time. Analysts say this move marks a strategic evolution from the country’s long‑standing reliance on imported refined fuel to becoming a global exporter of petroleum products.

Since starting operations in 2024, the refinery — one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day — has gradually increased output and moved surplus fuel into global markets beyond West Africa, including the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This expansion reflects Nigeria’s growing presence in the international energy trade, potentially boosting foreign exchange earnings and reducing the country’s historical dependence on costly fuel imports.

Economists believe that these export flows not only strengthen Nigeria’s position