Group Warns of External Plots Against Dangote Refinery, Urges Protection of Nigeria’s Energy Giant
The Stand-Up South South Security Group has raised alarms over what it described as external efforts aimed at frustrating the operations of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos State, Nigeria. In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Secretary, Comrade Endurance Ukutegbere, the group hailed the refinery as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery and emphasized its strategic importance to Nigeria’s economic independence.
Ukutegbere stressed that Nigeria continues to rely heavily on petroleum product imports despite gaining independence from Britain 65 years ago. “Nigerians are still slaves to petroleum product importers and crude oil exporters,” the group said. It urged the Federal Government, as well as the leadership of petroleum unions NUPENG and PENGASSAN, to prioritize the broader national benefits of the Dangote Refinery over union or external pressures.
The group warned that petroleum importers and crude oil exporters may attempt to undermine the refinery and called on union leaders to avoid being used as instruments of an “anti-Nigeria agenda.” It emphasized that Dangote Refinery workers, like lecturers in private universities who are not required to join ASUU, have the right under the constitution to choose whether or not to join PENGASSAN, while still adhering to their employment terms.
Highlighting the economic and social stakes, the group pointed out that over 3,000 Nigerians are employed at the refinery, which has already contributed to mitigating the country’s reliance on imports. It recalled a missed opportunity in 2007 when Dangote-led consortium was denied the acquisition of Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, which could have helped Nigeria achieve energy independence nearly two decades ago. The statement called for proactive government intervention to protect Dangote Refinery from potential sabotage.
Concluding, Stand-Up South South Security Group thanked the National Security Adviser and other security agencies for mediating the industrial dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN. The group urged unions to redirect their advocacy toward reviving moribund government refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna, while safeguarding the Dangote Refinery, a private sector milestone seen as critical to Nigeria’s economic and energy future.
source: The nation