$17 Dangote refinery in Kenya gets support as Tinubu arrives Nairobi for Africa – France summit
- +…Dangote eyes East African market with refinery in Mombasa, Kenya
- +Strategic partnerships for economic growth
- +Support for regional industrial expansion
- +Regional integration and private sector leadership
President Bola Tinubu arrived in the Kenyan capital early Monday morning to attend the Africa-France summit.
President Bola Tinubu arrived in the Kenyan capital early Monday morning to attend the Africa-France summit. The high-level gathering aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between France and African nations.
Co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto, the summit focuses on critical global transitions. Key agenda items include energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, the restructuring of the global financing architecture, and climate action.
Strategic partnerships for economic growth
President Tinubu is participating in the summit, which is scheduled to take place on 11 and 12 May. His attendance underscores Nigeria’s commitment to deepening strategic partnerships with both African nations and the French Republic.
Under the theme “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”, the summit provides a platform for African and French leaders to deliberate on issues vital to the continent’s future. Discussions will cover infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technological advancement, and peace-building initiatives.
Support for regional industrial expansion
Beyond the official agenda, President Tinubu is expected to advocate for significant private sector expansion. Sources familiar with pre-summit engagements indicate that the President is supporting new moves by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, to establish a $17bn refinery in Mombasa, Kenya.
The President is reportedly elated by the move, which sees Dangote expanding his footprint in the oil and gas sector from Nigeria into East Africa. Dangote is eyeing the regional market with a refinery capable of processing 650,000 barrels per day. The project was originally intended for Tanzania before the decision was made to site it in Mombasa.
Regional integration and private sector leadership
Following the conclusion of the Nairobi summit, President Tinubu will depart for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the annual Africa CEO Forum on 14 and 15 May. This year’s forum, themed “Scale or Fail”, is expected to be the largest gathering of African private sector leaders, investors, and policymakers.
The forum, held in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), brings together over 2,000 executives to discuss regional integration and cross-border investment. President Tinubu is expected to deliver statements highlighting his administration’s ongoing reforms to position Nigeria as a prime destination for global investment. He will also hold high-level meetings with top-tier business leaders before returning to Nigeria.
