Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has called out the continent’s long-standing dependence on imported fuel, saying it’s both illogical and damaging. Despite being rich in crude oil, he said, Africa still relies heavily on fuel imports—often of poor quality—which has made the continent a dumping ground for substandard petroleum products.

In a recent interview, Dangote explained that this frustration was what drove him to build the massive $19 billion Dangote Refinery, now the largest in Africa. According to him, the goal was never just profit—it was about giving Nigeria and other African countries the ability to refine their own crude and end their reliance on foreign supply.

“It makes no sense that Africa, with all its oil reserves, still imports fuel,” he said. “Apart from Algeria and Libya, most African countries don’t refine what they produce. We should be self-sufficient.”

Dangote admitted the refinery project came with massive challenges and setbacks, saying he may not have gone through with it if he had known the full scale of the difficulties. Still, he believes the success of the refinery proves that big, ambitious projects are possible in Africa.

He also urged wealthy Nigerians to stop moving their money abroad and instead invest in industries that will help grow the local economy. “No country can grow without serious local investment,” he said. “Other countries may also face corruption, but their wealth is reinvested at home—we must do the same.”

Dangote stressed that if Africa is to meet the needs of its growing population, it must focus on refining its own resources, creating value locally, and building infrastructure that drives sustainable development.

In his view, the time for dependency is over. “We have the resources—we just need to start using them the right way.”