Rukayat Shittu Invites Dangote to Establish Refinery in Kwara Amid Legal Hurdle in Kenya
The youngest female lawmaker in Nigeria, Hon. Rukayat Shittu, has invited Africa's leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, to consider Kwara State as a location for a future refinery or major energy investment, following a legal dispute surrounding the proposed Dangote refinery project in Lamu, Kenya.
Rukayat, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, made the invitation in a personal appeal online to the billionaire industrialist, urging him to take a fresh look at Ilorin's strategic location, expanding infrastructure and emerging investment opportunities.
Her intervention comes after a Kenyan court ordered parties to maintain the status quo concerning disputed land earmarked for Dangote's proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, pending further proceedings.
The court action followed a petition by residents challenging aspects of the land acquisition and development process.
Against this backdrop, Rukayat said Nigeria should be ready to present alternative opportunities to Nigerian investors looking to undertake major industrial projects.
According to Rukayat, Ilorin offers a combination of strategic geography, expanding infrastructure, access to major markets and emerging industrial opportunities that could make it an attractive location for a future Dangote investment.
“Ilorin sits strategically between Nigeria's North and South, with access to major markets and an emerging network of roads, energy infrastructure, agro-industrial development, logistics and new urban infrastructure,” she said.
She argued that the opportunity should be viewed beyond the construction of a refinery.
A major energy project, she said, could become the anchor for a wider industrial ecosystem involving petrochemicals, manufacturing, storage, logistics, engineering, transportation and other energy-intensive businesses.
“When one door becomes legally uncertain, Nigeria should be ready to show you another door. Ilorin is that door,” she said.
Rukayat pointed to ongoing and emerging developments in roads, urban development, agro-industrial infrastructure, energy and logistics as complementary investments that could support the emergence of a broader industrial corridor around Ilorin.
“A refinery does not exist in isolation,” she said.
“It needs roads, power, water, logistics, storage, engineering, skilled workers, suppliers and markets.”
According to her, the convergence of these developments with Ilorin's strategic location provides an opportunity for Kwara to position itself as an industrial and logistics gateway between Nigeria's northern and southern markets.
She also stressed that any eventual investment would have to comply with Nigerian land laws, environmental requirements, regulatory approvals and proper engagement with affected communities.
Her immediate objective, she said, was to get Dangote to examine the opportunity.
“Come and see the land. Come and see the location. Come and see what is changing.”
“Come to Ilorin, Alhaji Dangote. Let's talk.”
Rukayat said Kwara should seek to transform its geographical advantage into an economic advantage by attracting major industrial investments and developing the ecosystem required to support them.
She said the proposed refinery conversation should also be viewed within the broader question of how Nigeria can expand industrial capacity beyond established economic centres.
For Rukayat, the objective is not simply to attract a refinery, but to create an industrial ecosystem capable of generating jobs, businesses, technical skills, logistics opportunities and new economic activity.
“Kwara should not merely consume industrial wealth. Kwara should be ready to host it.”
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