Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has raised a red flag over the wave of toxic, low-grade fuel flooding the continent, especially cheap imports linked to Russian crude.

Speaking at a major fuel conference in Abuja, Dangote said Africa is becoming a dumping ground for dirty fuel blends that wouldn’t be allowed in Europe or North America. He urged governments to protect local refiners and set stricter quality standards.

“We’re exporting crude and importing poverty,” he said, pointing out that Africa spends $90 billion a year importing fuel despite being a top crude producer.

His $19 billion refinery still imports 9–10 million barrels of crude monthly, partly because of poor supply deals and high local costs. Dangote also slammed inconsistent fuel standards across African countries, calling them a barrier to regional trade.

He warned that unless the continent acts fast, it will keep losing jobs, money, and control over its energy future.