Lagos, Nigeria – In a landmark shift for Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria has become a net exporter of petrol for the first time, thanks to surging output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

In March 2026, the Dangote Refinery exported 44,000 barrels per day (bpd) of petrol while imports fell to just 41,000 bpd, creating a small but historic surplus of roughly 3,000 bpd.

The development ends decades of paradox in which Nigeria exported vast quantities of crude oil but imported nearly all its refined fuel needs.

The 650,000-bpd refinery — the world’s largest single-train facility — processed 565,000 barrels of crude per day in March, its second-highest monthly intake since starting operations in late 2023. Market intelligence from Kpler confirms that petrol imports hit their lowest level on record as domestic refining capacity finally began meeting — and exceeding — local demand.

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the refinery, credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration for creating a supportive policy environment that restored investor confidence in the energy sector. The refinery has already begun expanding its reach: in March it shipped a 317,000-barrel petrol cargo to Mozambique — its first delivery to East Africa — with a follow-up cargo scheduled for Beira in April.

Strategic Implications

Analysts say the milestone will strengthen Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, ease pressure on the naira, and reduce the country’s long-standing vulnerability to global fuel supply shocks. It also positions Nigeria as an emerging player in the global refined products market, potentially disrupting traditional supply routes from the Middle East and Europe.

The Dangote Refinery’s rapid progress — from cutting import bills to supplying West Africa and now East Africa — marks a major turning point in Nigeria’s energy story after years of underinvestment in domestic refining capacity.

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo – Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Brazzaville to attend the investiture ceremony of re-elected President Denis Sassou N’Guesso, who secured a new five-year term as leader of the Republic of Congo.

Mahama landed in the Congolese capital on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, following a packed schedule in Ghana that included the official launch of his government’s flagship Free Primary Healthcare policy at the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital in Dodowa and the announcement of temporary measures to cushion Ghanaians against rising fuel prices.

The investiture ceremony for President Sassou N’Guesso is scheduled for Thursday morning, after which Mahama is expected to return to Accra.

Sassou N’Guesso, one of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state, has been a dominant figure in Congolese politics for decades. His re-election reinforces continuity in the Central African nation, where he has previously served multiple terms.

The Ghanaian president’s attendance at the event highlights the strong diplomatic and brotherly ties between Ghana and the Republic of Congo, both of which continue to play active roles in advancing Pan-African cooperation, regional stability, and economic integration.

The visit also comes at a time when Ghana is intensifying its engagement with fellow African nations on key development issues, including healthcare access, energy security, and economic resilience.

President Mahama’s participation is seen as a demonstration of solidarity and a reaffirmation of Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across the continent.

Cape Town, South Africa – South Africa has formally returned ancestral human remains and a sacred Zimbabwe Bird stone carving to Zimbabwe, more than 100 years after they were taken during the colonial era, in a significant act of cultural restitution between the two nations.

The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Iziko South African Museum. Eight coffins draped in the Zimbabwean flag contained the remains of individuals who had been unethically exhumed for colonial research.

Zimbabwean officials said the remains would be further studied upon return and eventually laid to rest in their rightful places. South Africa’s Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie described the restitution as an important step in restoring dignity, pride, and history to the people of Zimbabwe.

Also returned was the iconic soapstone Zimbabwe Bird (Chapungu), a powerful national and spiritual symbol believed to carry protective meaning. One of several carvings looted from the ancient Great Zimbabwe ruins (built between the 11th and 13th centuries), it was taken by a British explorer in the late 19th century and sold to Cecil John Rhodes.

Most of the other birds were returned shortly after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. The birds, which stand about 33 centimetres tall and were originally perched on stone columns, feature prominently on Zimbabwe’s national flag, banknotes, and coins.

The restitution forms part of a growing global movement for the return of African cultural artefacts and human remains taken during the colonial period. Zimbabwean government representative Reverend Paul Damasane welcomed the artefacts home, calling it a long-overdue moment of healing and reconnection with the nation’s heritage.