Dangote refinery leadership change sees David Bird take over as CEO of fuels and petrochemicals to boost output, fix challenges, and lead Africa-wide expansion

Dangote refinery leadership is entering a bold new chapter as David Bird, former CEO of Oman’s Duqm refinery, assumes control of the group’s fuels and petrochemicals division.

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His appointment in July 2025 signals a strategic shift aimed at overcoming operational setbacks and expanding Dangote’s refining footprint across Africa.

Bird’s experience leading OQ8 through its Duqm expansion is expected to bring renewed efficiency and scale to the 650,000 b/d Lagos refinery the world’s largest single-train facility.

Since its commissioning in early 2024, the plant has slashed Nigeria’s fuel imports, despite encountering regulatory and technical hurdles.

With a focus on flexible feedstocks and output optimization, Bird plans to reposition the Dangote refinery as a global refining leader.

This aligns with the group’s upcoming milestones, including a capacity upgrade to 700,000 b/d and an international logistics rollout featuring 4,000 CNG-powered trucks.