Azibapu Godbless Eruani, President and founder of the Azikel Group, is a man of vision, grit, and audacity. A man of commitments and unrelenting grit, Dr. Eruani has etched his name boldly in Nigeria’s industrial development. From a celebrated medical doctor to a government commissioner and now an industrial powerhouse, Eruani has redefined what it means to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Beneath the tidal creeks of Bayelsa State, beneath its forests, beneath its skies often choked with despair over economic neglect, Dr. Eruani has built more than a business; he is building a revival – not just for himself, but for an entire region long condemned to watch others harvest its riches.
Today, the Azikel Group is not just a company — it is an industrial movement that has turned Bayelsa, a state often dismissed as a backwater, into a budding hub of private-driven industrialisation.. With this, Eruani has etched his name not only into the entrepreneurial annals of Bayelsa State but also into the wider economic story of Nigeria.
The Azikel Group with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has over 700 employees, an annual revenue exceeding $80 million, and with subsidiaries straddling sand dredging, aviation, power, agriculture, and petroleum refining, the Azikel Group today stands as an inspiring testament to what courage and good thinking can achieve in an environment where excuses often drown ambition. The Azikel Group has brought some industrial revival.
At the heart of this revival is Azikel Refinery- a member of the Azikel Group –, an $850 million hydro-skimming modular refinery in Obunagha, Gbarain-Ubie near Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in Nigeria, near the East-West Road and the Isaac Adako Boro Expressway that connects to Yenagoa and Port Harcourt. It is surrounded by Obunagha community on the north, Nun River on the south, proposed Azikel power plant on the west and is 20m away from the Gbarian-Ubie Shell Gas Gathering Facility on the east.
Today, rising proudly on the swampy lands of Obunagha, Yenagoa, stands the Azikel Refinery— one of Nigeria’s most audacious private industrial projects — It is Nigeria’s first privately built condensate refinery and the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is Dr. Eruani’s boldest project yet—an endeavour that may shift the story of industrialization in Nigeria
Licensed in 2015 by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the refinery was conceived to address Nigeria’s long-standing paradox — being Africa’s biggest crude producer but still reliant on imported refined products.
“This is not a topping plant producing only diesel,” Dr. Eruani explains passionately. “We are Africa’s first refinery that processes both crude oil and condensate as feedstock. What was once wasted is now turned into value.”
The refinery, built on 19.9 hectares of reclaimed swamp, is strategically located near the Shell-operated Gbarain-Ubie Gas Gathering Facility, ensuring direct supply of feedstock through a pipeline connection. Its 12,000 barrels-per-day capacity will produce premium-grade PMS, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, and LPG, meeting Euro 6 international standards.
Sometimes ago, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri visited the place. After a tour of the facility, he praised Eruani for “breaking the jinx” of industrial stagnation. “He has made Bayelsa a refinery-hosting state,” Diri said, calling the project a milestone for job creation and revenue.
Diri added, “Dr. Eruani has made Bayelsa a refinery-hosting state. He has broken the jinx of industrial stagnation… this refinery will improve IGR (internally generated revenue) and create jobs for our youth.”
That “bold move” was into sand dredging—a vital but unglamorous industry many considered unworthy of a man with his pedigree. His mother, deeply proud of his medical laurels, opposed the decision. But Eruani persisted, driven by the acute infrastructural needs of Bayelsa, a state that sits precariously below sea level and relies heavily on sand for construction.
“I knew from the outset that I was going to redefine the business,” he says. “When I started, I didn’t even own a dredger. I partnered with those who did, hired local canoe operators, and built gradually. From there, Azikel Dredging grew into the leading dredging firm in the state—and the foundation of what would later become the Azikel Group.”
Also, a few weeks ago, last August, former President, Goodluck Jonathan paid a visit to the Azikel Group. He lauded what he described as the high standard investment of the Azikel Group which includes dredging, power, aviation and petroleum in Nigeria.
Jonathan speaking at the unveiling of two brown new helicopters to the fleets of the group at the operational base in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said the two additional new helicopters were equipped facilities, special and spectacular to match the challenging operations in the Niger Delta which is mostly riverine and offshore.
The Azikel Group conglomerate has acquired fleets of helicopters for the safe and efficient movement of the Company’s Executives and operations. Jonathan averred that the newly acquired 2025 Bell helicopter 505 and 2025 Agusta 109SP Elite Configuration helicopter will enhance efficiency and safe operations.
The former president, who also visited the Azikel Refinery, lauded the speed of work at the Azikel Refinery which is at its completion phase. He shared the optimism that the refinery when fully operational will benefit the overall economic and industrial benefit to the people of Bayelsa and Nigeria in general.
In his response, President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, appreciated the former President, for the visit to the Azikel Operational Base and the Azikel Refinery and for unveiling the new helicopters.
Dr. Eruani, expressed confidence that the products of the refinery are of the best quality and of the highest grade which meets international specifications. “The products of the Azikel Refinery are of highest quality and grade euro 6 to meet the highest international specifications”, the Azikel chief executive said.
“The Agusta 109 SP is the best helicopter, it is built to adapt to challenging weather, highly efficient and reliable for maximum comfort and safe flight. The 2025 Agusta 109 SP flew from Italy to Nigeria and so owing to the inbuilt capabilities, it only requires programming to fly to different destinations in Nigeria with little supervision by certified pilot.
“This is the latest Bell 505 which is the best of its kind; and it’s also built for comfort, and safety, such that the computerized device can detect turbulence and send signals for safe landing”
Azikel Refinery is a greenfield hydro-skimming refinery project being developed by Azikel Group in Nigeria. The project is estimated to involve an investment of $12bn. Operated by Azikel Petroleum, an Azikel Group subsidiary, the 12,000 barrels per day refinery is Nigeria’s first private refinery project with hydro-skimming configuration. When completed, it will produce mixed LPG, gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuels, and diesel as primary products and heavy fuel oil, naphtha and gas oil as secondary products.
Though rooted in Bayelsa, Azikel Group’s outlook is global. Azikel Aviation provides private aviation services to top executives and government officials. Azikel Agriculture is investing in food security, while Azikel Energy is positioning for Africa’s future energy mix. But to understand its full weight, one must first retrace the steps of the man who dared to imagine it
As such, today in the story of Nigeria’s rising industrial titans, few names resonate as boldly as Eruani, From humble beginnings as a celebrated medical doctor to becoming one of Nigeria’s most audacious industrialists, his journey exemplifies what happens when foresight, determination, and purposeful relationships converge to fuel destiny.
Dr Eruani resigned from his positions as a commissioner in Bayelsa State and ventured into the entrepreneurial space. At that time, he started business by selling sands, having seeing opportunities within the building and construction industry, since people needed plenty sands for building, because the state is below sea level.
He became a sand seller to Bayelsans. And soon, he re-defined the business as he had a burning desire to support infrastructural development of the state and the Niger Delta, by easing the difficulty in getting sand. When he started the sand business, he had didn’t have the needed equipment beyond a few workers who were mining sand , using local canoes. He tells of the early days.
“When I started this business, I had didn’t have a dredger so I hired people that were mining sand through help of local canoes. In the long run I did not only change the business, I took the driver’s seat and my company, Azikel Dredging, became the leading dredging firm in the state. I must let you know that Azikel Dredging started the entire conglomerate called Azikel Group.”
Using his creativity and social connections, he acquired dredging machines to scoop sand. And thus the compamy evolved into Azikel Dredging, which within years became the leading dredging firm in the Niger Delta. And contrary to assumptions of inherited wealth, Eruani used his creativity to power the business. How did he do this? He raised N30 million to acquire a truck. But how does a man move from taking a ₦30 million loan to buy his first truck, to commanding an empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars? The Secret Sauce: vision, grit, and relationships.
“Not many people knew that I took a loan when I started business, but I did. I took the first loan of N30 millionto buy my first truck and I took the second loan of N70 million to buy other trucks. Interestingly, when I started the dredging business, I didn’t even have up to N5 million in my account but then I came up with a strategy and partner with one Akpe from Sagbama LGA who own a dredger that wasn’t in use. I told him “come and dredge sand for me on my land and I will pay you”, of course, I paid him from sale of the heaps of sand he dredged for me. What I’m I saying is that I deployed my business acumen to source for money when I started and it worked. Therefore, I dare to say wealth is a function of right thinking and the application of thought out plan to action.”
That mix of financial ingenuity and courage has marked every step of his expansion.
“Business is about good thinking,” Azibapu explained. “Wealth is a function of the right mindset, translated into concrete action.” He didn’t have millions when he started, but he had strategy, grit, and the ability to build relationships that mattered.
From dredging, Azibapu took a bold leap into energy. “Most Bayelsa businessmen at the time invested in hotels or trading,” he said. “But I wanted to change the industrial narrative of our people. I wanted to prove that we could play in spaces considered too complex.”
In 2015, Azikel Power secured a 500MW on-grid power generation license from the Federal Government — a feat that placed the company on the national energy map. Not long after, Azikel Petroleum Limited emerged as one of only 22 companies to be granted a refinery license out of hundreds of applicants. Today, the $850 million Azikel Refinery in Yenagoa is nearing completion, standing as the first and only condensate hydro-skimming refinery in sub-Saharan Africa.
The refinery is perhaps his boldest project yet. Sitting on land near the Shell-operated Gbarain-Ubie Gas Gathering Project, it is 87 percent complete and will refine five million litres of premium products daily.
“This is not a topping plant producing only diesel,” he explains. “We are Africa’s first and only refinery that processes both crude oil and condensate as feedstock. What was once wasted is now turned into value.”
The project already employs over 400 workers, with 250 Bayelsans among them. Many have been trained overseas, ensuring world-class expertise is transferred home.
The proximity of the refinery to Shell’s Gbarian-Ubie oil and gas facility will ensure affordable feedstock supply. The Shell facility will directly supply Bonny light crude and condensate to the Azikel refinery storage tanks via pipeline.
The refinery rates 5.3 in the Nelson Complexity Index (NCI), which is a measure of oil refinery sophistication. The state-of-the-art operation system of the refinery will work on the emission control mechanism to attain the lowest achievable emission rate (LAER), supporting the facility to be the cleanest refinery in Africa.
A very high research octane number clear (RONC) reformate will be produced in the refinery, using UOP Reformer technology, which will be mixed with light straight run (LSR) naphtha and butane to produce premium motor spirit (PMS) at 89 RONC.
The refinery will require 140 gallons per minute (gpm) of raw water, cooling water circulation of 1,200gpm and boiling feed water of 52gpm.
A lot of people say the Niger Delta helps Nigeria make fortunes with substantial crude oil coming from Bayelsa, but rarely does its own soil refine it. Until now when Aziikel Refinery come into being.
And what makes it different? Why does it matter? There are refineries in Nigeria, but few are private, fewer still combine feedstocks, and almost none have been realized despite government promises. Azikel stands out as:
Dual feedstock operation: processing both crude and condensate, transforming what was once wasted or under-utilised, adding value internally.
Hydro-skimming configuration: allowing more complete refining, more variety of end products beyond just fuel oil or diesel.
Modular construction: Many core modules built overseas (notably by McDermott, USA), shipped in and assembled, helping manage risks and reduce some delays.
Local content, jobs, skills: Over 400 indigenous and expatriate workers already employed, 250 of them Bayelsans; staff trained at home and abroad.
No such mammoth project comes without formidable opposition and challenges. These include financial hurdles, especially in accessing foreign exchange for imported equipment and modules. Then skepticism: from every layer—neighbors, analysts, sometimes even his own family. When Dr. Eruani left medicine and public service for sand and dredging, many wondered whether he was wasting a gifted mind. His mother reportedly asked, “You’re a celebrated medical doctor, why stoop so low?” Eruani also has regulatory and bureaucratic inertia to deal with. Though licenses are granted, many private refinery projects in Nigeria never begin; many stall. But Azikel has kept being measured not by promises, but by work on the ground.
Dr. Eruani often calls this “good thinking” – wealth as a function of the right mindset translated into concrete action. It is a belief: that structural change requires not only capital, but resolve, patience, relationships.
Dr. Eruani Azibapu’s story is not just one of riches, but of purposeful persistence. His path from treating patients, to treating communities, is more than metaphor. It is built into sand, into pipelines, into modules, into the dreams of young Bayelsans now being trained as refinery technicians and engineers. It’s in the rust-red soil of foundations, in the glow of welding torches, in the roar of turbines yet to spin.
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