Civil society organisations under the Advocacy Intelligence and Development Foundation (AIDF) have urged the Federal Government, civic groups, and ordinary Nigerians to rise in defence of the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a “national lifeline” under threat from union disputes.
The call comes amid tensions between the refinery and oil unions — NUPENG and PENGASSAN — who accuse the company of resisting unionisation, over-reliance on expatriates, and intimidating workers. The unions have threatened strikes and blockades, sparking fears of disruptions to a project designed to end decades of fuel import dependence.
Convener of AIDF, Osabinu Olufemi, said support for the refinery must be seen as defending the economic future of millions, not just a private empire. “Supporting Dangote Refinery is about defending the chance of Nigerians to buy fuel without queuing endlessly, to pay fairer prices, to witness competition instead of monopoly, and to see Nigeria finally walk the talk of self-sufficiency,” he said.
Osabinu noted that Nigeria spends over $10 billion annually importing fuel despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer. With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote Refinery is the world’s largest single-train facility and has the potential to meet domestic demand, export surplus, create over 135,000 jobs, and save billions in foreign exchange.
AIDF warned that while workers’ rights to unionise are guaranteed by the Constitution and international conventions, such rights must not be weaponised to undermine national energy security. “When unions blockade a refinery or threaten fuel stability, they step beyond protected rights into economic sabotage,” the group said.
It urged government to act decisively, warning that allowing labour disruptions at such a strategic facility would send negative signals to investors about Nigeria’s industrial climate.
“The Dangote Refinery represents more than steel and machinery. It is a symbol of Nigeria’s struggle for economic liberation,” Olufemi stressed. “No barricade, no sabotage, and no parochial interest should be allowed to extinguish that promise.”
The organisation maintained that the unfolding crisis is not merely a labour dispute but a test of Nigeria’s collective priorities — whether to embrace industrial rebirth or allow entrenched interests to suffocate its future.