Lagos — Civil society and student organisations are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the protection and uninterrupted operations of the Dangote Refinery, amid rising concerns over sabotage, union disputes, and threats to fuel supply stability.
Who Is Sounding the Alarm
• The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been particularly vocal. In statements released by its leadership, NANS urged the government to secure the Dangote Refinery infrastructure, including newly introduced CNG-powered trucks used for fuel distribution, from suspected attacks by “vested interests.”
• Another group, Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs (MAAES), warned that economic sabotage masked as labour disputes or strikes must not be allowed to disrupt refinery operations.
• Also, a group called Stand-Up South South Security Group cautioned against what it called schemes to destabilise the refinery, and urged PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria) to cease what it sees as attacks over workforce reorganisation.
What Are the Concerns
• There are reports of threats to the newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks owned by Dangote Refinery, including intelligence that some oil cartel actors may seek to damage or burn those vehicles.
• The dispute between Dangote Refinery and NUPENG/PENGASSAN over worker unionization and hiring practices has raised fears of strikes or supply disruptions that could jeopardise fuel availability.
• Some groups allege that powerful interests (in oil importation, subsidy systems, or crude supply chains) might be resisting the success of Dangote Refinery, which represents a shift away from fuel dependence on foreign sources.
What the Groups Are Demanding
• Immediate action by the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to safeguard refinery infrastructure from sabotage or attack. This includes protection for CNG trucks and other distribution assets.
• That labour disputes with Dangote Refinery be handled with dialogue rather than threats of shutdowns, strikes, or heavy-handed interventions.
• Enforcement of laws and regulatory frameworks to ensure Dangote Refinery and other local refineries get access to crude oil, with favourable arrangements (such as local procurement or pricing in local currency) to help reduce operating costs.
Why It Matters
Supporters say Dangote Refinery is not just a private enterprise: it has become a critical national asset. Its success has the potential to:
• Decrease Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports;
• Improve fuel supply stability and reduce shortages;
• Generate employment and foster local industrial capacity;
• Lower costs for consumers if input and logistics are secured.
Risks of Inaction
Failure to protect the refinery or resolve labour disputes amicably could lead to:
• Fuel scarcity, which often triggers broader economic hardship;
• Disruption of distribution networks (especially if transportation assets are sabotaged);
• Loss of investor confidence;
• Exacerbation of tensions between private sector operators and labour unions;
• Strengthening of illegal or corrupt practices (smuggling, subsidy abuse, import dependence).