Dangote Refinery appoints new CEO

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has named David Bird, former head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as the new Chief Executive Officer of its petroleum and petrochemicals division.

The appointment, reported by S&P Global Commodity Insights on Friday, will take effect in July 2025. Bird’s leadership is expected to help address operational challenges and steer the $20 billion facility into its next phase of expansion.

Aliko Dangote, the founder of the refinery, will continue in his role as chairman of the business.

This leadership change comes as the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery prepares to begin nationwide distribution of premium motor spirit (PMS) and automotive gas oil (AGO) in August 2025. The move has drawn resistance from petroleum marketers in the country.

The refinery, which officially began fuel production in September last year, has been steadily increasing its output in preparation for full-scale operations.