Lagos, Nigeria – August 2, 2025 — The Dangote Group has appointed David Bird, former Chief Executive Officer of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as the new CEO of its Petroleum and Petrochemicals division. The move marks a pivotal step in addressing operational challenges and positioning the group for continental and global expansion.
Bird assumed the role in July 2025, taking the helm of the conglomerate’s fuels and petrochemicals operations, which includes the $20 billion Lagos-based refinery — the world’s largest single-train facility with a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (b/d). His appointment comes at a time when the refinery is navigating a complex mix of technical setbacks, regulatory hurdles, and a changing feedstock landscape.
Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, continues to serve as Chairman of the refining arm and Group CEO across the conglomerate’s portfolio, which includes cement, fertilizer, and sugar production.
Industry analysts have described Bird’s recruitment as a strategic move. During his tenure at Oman’s OQ8 (the operator of the Duqm refinery), Bird led the facility through expansion efforts and crude diversification in the lead-up to its 2023 trial runs. His track record is expected to add momentum to Dangote’s push for efficiency and broader market reach.
In comments provided to Platts, a unit of S&P Global Commodity Insights, Bird highlighted his immediate priorities, which include optimizing refinery output, increasing plant efficiency, and expanding market penetration across Africa. He emphasized his commitment to positioning Dangote as a global leader in refining.
The appointment comes against the backdrop of ongoing challenges at the Lagos refinery, which began operations in January 2024. While the facility has significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported gasoline, it has also faced issues including design flaws, startup delays, and an unfavorable regulatory climate.
Aliko Dangote has previously criticized rent-seeking behaviors and the influx of substandard fuel imports as impediments to the refinery’s success.
Bird has articulated a clear operational strategy focused on high plant utilization, flexible crude sourcing, and enhanced trading performance. With Nigerian crude supplies tightening, the refinery is increasingly turning to a more diverse slate of feedstocks.
Despite its global ambitions, the facility remains tethered to a naira-based domestic supply agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which holds a 7.2% equity stake. Under this arrangement, the refinery must allocate a designated volume of its output to the local market.
Looking ahead, the Dangote Group plans to expand the refinery’s capacity to 700,000 b/d, improve its marine logistics, and establish international product storage facilities, including in Namibia. Additionally, the company will launch its own distribution network in August, deploying 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks across Nigeria.
Executives have also revealed plans to publicly list the refining arm on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Exchange, a move expected to attract global investors and bolster transparency.
With Bird at the helm, Dangote’s downstream ambitions are entering a new phase — one focused on operational excellence, regional dominance, and eventual global influence in the petroleum and petrochemicals space.
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