A viral post circulating on social media platforms claims that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is selling his 650,000 barrels per day refinery to the Adeleke family for $30 billion.
The post alleges that reports were churned out and has already attracted several foreign buyers, with the Adeleke family currently leading the race to buy the refinery.
A verified x user @ykbprst made the post on March 8 2026, with that caption:
“JUST IN: Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has reportedly put his Dangote Refinery up for sale for about $30 billion.
Reports say the news has already attracted several foreign buyers, with the Adeleke family currently leading the race to buy the refinery.”
As of March 9, the post has garnered over 316000 views, 7000 likes, and over 500 comments.
READ: Dangote refinery no dey sell fuel for Naija markets for dollars
CLAIM
Aliko Dangote is selling his refinery for $30 billion, and Adeleke family are on the front row for the purchase.
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE. There is no official statement from the Dangote Group or any credible financial news outlet indicating a sale to the Adeleke family or any foreigners at that.
In addition, The FactCheckHub reached out to the Dangote Representative, Tony Chiejina, who asserted that the post is false.
READ ALSO: No! Dangote refinery is NOT the biggest in the world
The $30 billion figure cited in the post is a misrepresentation of a corporate milestone. Business Insider Africa reported that the Dangote Group, which projects total annual revenue across all sectors, including cement, sugar, and fertiliser, is on track to hit $30 billion by the end of 2026. This refers to the group’s earnings, not a valuation for a sale.
Furthermore, in February 2026, Aliko Dangote officially announced that the refinery would be listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), This Day reported. This public listing is intended to allow ordinary Nigerians and institutional investors to buy shares in the facility, contradicting the claim that it was a private sale to a single family.
VERDICT
The claim that Aliko Dangote is selling his refinery to the Adeleke family for $30 billion is FALSE. The figure represents the group’s projected annual revenue, and the company is moving toward a public stock listing rather than a private divestment.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
