By Sacred Ground to Global Giant: How the Ooni of Ife Saved the Dangote Refinery
Sacred Ground to Global Giant: How the Ooni of Ife Saved the Dangote Refinery
In a recent revelation that highlights the intersection of modern industrialization and ancient African tradition, Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, credited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, with a pivotal spiritual intervention that allowed the construction of the Dangote Refinery to proceed. This story came to light during the December 2025 launch of a 100 billion Naira education program, highlighting the careful considerations needed when erecting a massive $20 billion industrial complex on land rich with local customs and ancestral significance. The Spiritual Deadlock
The Dangote Refinery, a sprawling industrial site spanning approximately 6,180 acres (2,500 hectares), sits within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Having acquired the land from the Lagos State Government for around $100 million, the project faced a major obstacle: 19 sacred shrines dotted the landscape. According to Aliko Dangote:
• Contractor Fear: Construction workers and contractors were reportedly “dreaded” getting close to the shrines, fearing spiritual repercussions or community backlash. • Project Stall: The presence of these spiritual landmarks caused significant delays in the early stages of the project, as no one was willing to disturb the sites.
The Ooni’s Bold Intervention
Understanding the seriousness of the issue, the Ooni of Ife, the highly respected spiritual leader of the Yoruba people, stepped in to resolve the impasse. Rather than delegating the task, the Ooni personally visited the construction site to directly address the spiritual concerns of the local residents. ”The Ooni went there personally.
He stood right there and said, ‘Remove all of them. Anything they want, let the gods come and talk to me.'”
— Aliko Dangote
By personally managing the relocation of the shrines, the Ooni provided crucial cultural validation, enabling workers to proceed without fear. This move effectively shifted the perceived spiritual burden from the project developers to the traditional authority represented by the Throne of Ife.
Significance of the Site
Beyond its commercial purpose, the refinery stands as an impressive feat of engineering, involving the draining of extensive swamplands and the careful cultivation of relationships within the local community. Modernity vs. Tradition
The relocation of these shrines remains a noteworthy event in the story of Nigeria’s industrial progress.
This situation underscores that large-scale infrastructure projects rely not only on financial resources and technical expertise but also on social sensitivity and cultural understanding. Many view the Ooni’s actions as a practical way to harmonize respect for traditional customs with the pursuit of Nigeria’s economic self-reliance. Absent this extraordinary demonstration of cultural leadership, the world’s largest single-train refinery might remain a mere concept, hindered by the very land it was meant to transform.
The Dangote Refinery is set to revolutionize Nigeria’s economy by significantly reducing its reliance on imported gasoline, diesel, and other fuels.her petroleum products. Beyond reducing reliance on imported fuel, the refinery is projected to generate numerous employment opportunities for Nigerians and spur growth in related industries like transportation and petrochemicals. [Source needed] Its advanced technology and massive scale also signal Nigeria’s intent to become a key player in the international energy sector.
