Dangote Group Appoints David Bird as CEO of Fuels and Petrochemicals to Drive Pan-African Growth
In a major leadership shake-up, the Dangote Group has appointed David Bird, a seasoned industry expert, as the Chief Executive Officer of its fuels and petrochemicals division. Bird, who previously headed Oman’s Duqm Refinery, officially assumed his new position in July 2025.
His appointment signals a strategic shift as the group seeks to scale up its $20 billion Lagos-based refinery, the world’s largest single-train facility, which began operations in January 2024.
Aliko Dangote retains his roles as chairman of the refinery arm and CEO of the broader conglomerate, which spans cement, fertiliser, and sugar manufacturing.
Bird’s credentials include extensive experience in feedstock diversification, refinery optimisation, and trading-led strategy, making him an ideal fit as the refinery targets full capacity amid ongoing technical and market challenges.
“My focus will be on maximising refinery output and operational efficiency while advancing the group’s footprint continent-wide,” Bird stated in a LinkedIn post shortly after assuming his role.
The refinery, although making strides in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports, has faced technical hiccups like unit failures and design inconsistencies. As of July, it was the only refinery operational in Nigeria, exporting around 220,000 barrels per day, according to S&P Global.
Products exported included 45% jet fuel, 24% gasoil, and 30,000 bpd of residual fuels, reflecting capacity constraints.
Bird takes over at a time when the business must also navigate a complex regulatory and pricing environment. Despite the official removal of fuel subsidies, sources say irregularities and rent-seeking practices remain.
Additionally, the refinery’s crude supply deal with NNPC, which holds a 7.2% stake, ties it to fixed domestic supply obligations, limiting its global trading flexibility.
To mitigate supply risk, the refinery has started processing a wider array of crude grades than initially planned, leveraging Bird’s prior experience managing diverse crude inputs at Duqm.
Looking ahead, Dangote Group aims to boost refining capacity from 650,000 to 700,000 bpd, invest in port logistics, and establish international storage facilities in Namibia and other African markets.
From August, the company will also launch its in-house distribution network using 4,000 CNG-powered trucks—an effort to reduce dependency on third-party logistics.
Plans for an eventual dual listing of the refining business in Lagos and London are advancing, with Dangote reiterating this commitment during a July 22 announcement.
“David Bird’s operational experience and strategic acumen will be instrumental in stabilising the refinery’s performance and positioning it as a continental leader,” said one downstream oil analyst.
