President William Ruto has endorsed Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s announcement of a partnership with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to construct an oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania.

Speaking on Thursday, April 23, 2026, during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, in a sideline meeting with Dangote, Ruto stated that the move positions it as a key regional project for investment and job creation.

At the same time, Ruto praised Aliko Dangote’s contributions to manufacturing, cement, sugar, and oil refining.

“African industrialists and entrepreneurs are key drivers of economic growth and innovation in various sectors, including manufacturing, industrialisation, banking and technology. As a result, they are crucial partners with governments in transforming our countries, especially in investment and employment creation,” Ruto stated.

“Met Mr @AlikoDangote, founder of the Dangote Group and Africa’s leading industrialist with interests in cement and sugar manufacturing and oil refining, on the sidelines of the Africa We Build Summit, Nairobi,” Ruto said.

While backing Dangote’s proposal, Ruto applauded the businessman for believing in Africa, further affirming his commitment to working with him to make the regional project a reality.

“We welcome his announcement at the summit that he was ready to partner with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in building an oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania. We thank Mr Dangote for believing in Africa and are committed to working with him to make this very important regional project a reality,” Ruto added.

Dangote’s pledge

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, announced at the summit that he would build a refinery in East Africa similar to his huge complex in Nigeria if he received support from President William Ruto and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni.

“I can give commitment to the two presidents that are here: if they will support the refinery, we’ll build the identical one that we have in Nigeria — 650,000 barrels,” Dangote told the audience.

Africa’s dependence on fuel imports will continue to rise from 74 million tonnes in 2023 to 86 million tonnes in 2040, the AFC, a Pan-African organisation that helps fund and develop infrastructure, said in its report.

That is equivalent to almost three of Dangote’s Nigeria refinery — by far the biggest in Africa.