Fire today Wednesday broke out at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery located at Ibeju-Lekki area on the Lagos Island.
The cause of the inferno was not known.
However, eyewitnesses said it was preceded by a heavy explosion.
Videos being shared online showed black thick smoke oozing out of a corner of the refinery.
People could be seen running up and down and screaming as the fire raged on.
The refinery was officially commissioned last year by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Officials of the refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Alhajji Aliko Dangote, have reacted formally to the incident.
In a statement by its Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, the refinery’s management said the incident did not affect operations at company.
“There is no cause for alarm as the refinery is operating and there is no recorded injury or body harm to any of our staff on duty,” the management said.
The refinery, Africa’s largest, is built on the Lekki peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial capital Lagos at a cost of $20 billion.
It has the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), the largest in Africa and Europe.
