The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised alarm over what it calls a deliberate effort by powerful vested interests to sabotage operations at the Dangote Refinery.
The Forum said the attacks on the ₦19 billion facility are not only against Aliko Dangote but against Nigeria’s economic independence and the country’s image before investors.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T.A. Muhammad-Baba, the ACF warned that the refinery — described as “Nigeria’s largest and most modern indigenous crude oil processing outfit” — has faced an unrelenting onslaught since inception.
It said persistent disruptions, regulatory interference, and forced unionisation campaigns are part of a wider agenda to frustrate the refinery’s stabilisation and stop Nigeria from achieving self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products.
‘Subterranean Cabals Out to Sabotage Progress’
According to the Forum, the challenges facing the refinery are “the handiwork of entrenched subterranean interests or the proverbial cabals bent on maintaining an asphyxiating hold on the oil sector and the national economy.”
The ACF said such actors are uncomfortable with Dangote’s success, which threatens decades of racketeering in fuel importation, subsidy scams, and supply inefficiencies.
It also condemned the alleged coercion of refinery workers to join the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), calling the move unconstitutional.
“The demand for forced membership is unconstitutional. The right to unionise is personal and voluntary,” the statement stressed.
Backing Aliko Dangote’s legal actions to safeguard the refinery, the ACF said PENGASSAN’s refusal to obey a subsisting court order was an open challenge to the rule of law.
Protect Dangote Refinery as National Asset
The Forum urged the Federal Government to classify the Dangote Refinery as a strategic national asset, deserving of special security protection.
It warned that attempts to destabilise the refinery could discourage both domestic and foreign investors. “Putting down the Dangote complex sends the wrong signal to investors,” the Forum stated.
It further called for the creation of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to expose those behind recurring industrial sabotage, particularly in key economic sectors.
“There should be consequences for individuals or groups who hide behind unions to cripple national progress,” it said.
The ACF also urged labour leaders to act with national interest in mind, warning of “international conspiracies and machinations aimed at keeping Africa dependent.”
“The Dangote Refinery must not be allowed to fail,” it concluded. “Protecting it is not about one man but about Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and future.”
Dangote Group Thanks Tinubu for Intervention
Meanwhile, the refinery has thanked President Bola Tinubu for his decisive role in resolving its recent standoff with PENGASSAN.
In a statement on Sunday, the company also appreciated the Ministers of Labour and Employment and other government officials for helping to end what it called “disruptive actions” by the union.
“We are grateful to President Tinubu and his ministers for their patriotism and national service,” the statement said. “You gave us hope and reinforced our belief in Nigeria and her people as the backbone of our enterprise.”
The refinery also commended its workers who, despite the pressure, ensured that operations continued without interruption.
“To our loyal workers who kept the refinery running, we thank you deeply,” it added. “We will continue to protect national interest against rent seekers and economic saboteurs.”
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