Follow Us on Google
By John Ogunsemore
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on various stakeholders in the petroleum sector to immediately halt ongoing disputes and hostilities against the Dangote Refinery, describing the facility as a vital national asset essential for economic stability and growth.
In a press release issued on Sunday, NANS National President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja expressed concern over a recent publication by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which he said has escalated tensions.
The Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, has faced various challenges since inception, including regulatory scrutiny from NMDPRA over product quality and accusations of monopoly from marketers.
DAPPMAN had threatened legal action against the refinery over claims of fuel smuggling.
PENGASSAN recently directed its members to suspend crude oil and gas supplies to the facility, citing alleged mass sackings of workers attempting to unionise.
Dangote Group has denied the claims, accusing the union of spreading lies and engaging in “terror tactics” against Nigerians.
The NANS President noted that any patriotic Nigerian who truly cares about the growth and stability of the national economy must be compelled to ask critical questions regarding the continued face-off between various parastatals and sectors and the Dangote Refinery.
Oladoja said, “Is it not worrisome that since the Refinery commenced full operations, different associations such as the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have engaged in one form of face-off or another with the DangoteRefinery? This persistent opposition from various sectors, seemingly aimed at frustrating and crippling the Refinery, is indeed perturbing and must be addressed urgently.”
NANS emphasised Dangote Refinery’s role in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuels.
Other News
Oladoja said, “In the country today, petroleum products are both essential and fundamental, as they impact virtually every citizen through their use in industry, transportation, power generation, domestic activities, and more.
“As such, they play a pivotal role in driving the economy. We have all seen and experienced the adverse effects of fuel scarcity on the lives of citizens and on the economy at large; it is a troubling and frustrating reality that disrupts livelihoods and national productivity.
“Moving forward, let us not forget that before the establishment of the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria, despite being a major crude oil producer, imported over 90 percent of its refined petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel), spending billions of dollars annually on imports.
“To the country’s advantage, the Dangote Refinery has significantly reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, thereby boosting the nation’s energy independence and saving the country from spending billions of dollars on importation every year.
“The outrageous amounts previously spent on importation are now being redirected towards infrastructure, agriculture, education, and overall national development.
“It is therefore the responsibility of all patriotic Nigerians to support the refinery and not frustrate its operations, as has been witnessed in certain quarters since it commenced full operations.”
The student association pointed out benefits including job creation in thousands across sectors, strengthened foreign exchange reserves, a bolstered naira, and enhanced energy security, stressing that by refining products locally, the refinery has reduced queues at filling stations, stabilised transportation costs, curbed inflation, and promoted investor confidence.
The refinery began processing crude into products like diesel and jet fuel in January 2024 and started petrol production in September of the same year, with an aim to meet full capacity soon, potentially ending Nigeria’s fuel import dependency entirely.
NANS urged all parties to prioritise national interest over sectoral conflicts.
“It is therefore the responsibility of all patriotic Nigerians to support the refinery and not frustrate its operations,” NANS stated.
