….Say Arrest Of Union Leaders Only PathwayTo Peace
Nigerians from all walks of life have overwhelmingly backed Dangote Refinery’s 10,000 CNG truck initiative against organized Labour, particularly Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Worker’s strike threat.
They also criticised and accused NUPENG of protecting vested interests at the expense of progress and citizens’ socio-economic benefits.
The standoff between the investor, Dangote and NUPENG was also viewed as part of a broader struggle over control and expansion of Nigeria’s energy future with the belief that NUPENG was only being divisive by viciously accusing and attacking Dangote Group of adopting anti-labour practices at its refinery and seeking to dominate the oil supply chain. Nigerians however called all these allegations “lies from the pit of hell.”
The larger concern about foreign influence also surfaced in the very contentious debate.
One of these growing concerns came from the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), as the apex students body appealed to the federal government to urgently intervene to save the Dangote Refinery from NUPENG’s threats and act of economic sabotage without respect to the rule of law or extant guidelines.
It also cautioned that its members will not stand idly by while a few individuals attempted to destroy the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a facility that had already become a beacon of employment and a hub of knowledge transfer for countless Nigerian graduates across all fields of endeavors.
NANS in a statement signed by Comrade Usman Adamu Nagwaza, President of the Senate, read, “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been following with keen interest the ongoing feud between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
“As much as we recognize the importance and vital role that unions and associations play in the defense and protection of human rights, we are obliged at this point to set the record straight: joining one is a matter of free will. No individual or group should be compelled or coerced into membership. Everyone has the freedom of association, and the choice not to associate should never warrant threats of a national showdown from any individual, body, or union.
“Furthermore, we call the attention of the indefatigable National Security Adviser, the top security brass, and their respective formations to the urgent need to safeguard these critical national assets. Any attack on them is, without question, an attack on the future of our nation.”
“We urge NUPENG to embrace dialogue and refrain from inadvertently becoming instruments in the hands of economic saboteurs.”
A social media influencer, Ebere Anosike observed that “it seems NLC & NUPENG are being used to sabotage Dangote Refinery and thus Nigeria’s economy to save Western refineries that are worrying about declining fuel imports.
The more worrying aspect is that NUPENG workers and members might not even know they’re being used by unseen hands controlling their top officials. A serious country would quickly investigate them for possible economic treason.”
Similarly, a leading civil society group, Right for Human Dignity and Justice, also reaffirmed its initial stand that the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services should arrest and prosecute the leadership of NUPENG.
Executive director of the group, Iheanyi Kingsley, maintained that NUPENG’s was only acting a script with a deliberate attempt to discredit the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and malign the image of the country.
Adding that the Federal Government must do everything possible to protect the Dangote Refinery and forestall any situation that might pose the risk of fuel scarcity or that could make Nigerians suffer untold hardships.
A truck driver at Dangote Refinery, Taofeek Jimoh on his part said:
“The senior officials of DSS and the Minister of Labour and Employment must be specially commended for their firm stand of not allowing NUPENG plunge Nigeria into a fresh round of economic crisis and for their resolve to make Nigeria’s business climate to be friendly, healthy and attractive to both local and foreign investors.
“We need more refineries in the country and we want more players who can depopulate the unemployment market just like Dangote and we don’t want any resistance to this progressive and fruitful move.
Again NUPENG must remember that unionism is not by force but has been made optional and in Dangote Refinery workers have rejected them and their dialobolic collective bargaining agreements, CBA.”
Sen.
Usman Adamu Nagwaza stated:
“The Dangote Refinery has contributed immensely to fuel production and distribution within the country, which in turn has eased the burden on Nigerians and undoubtedly spurred economic growth,”
On X, one user, Strict Uche declared: “Nigerians stand with Dangote. NUPENG has made the lives of Nigerians unbearable for years.”
Others framed the refinery as a rare national asset capable of breaking decades of reliance on foreign imports and union monopolies. They also applauded the deregulation of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector calling it a transformative policy shift.
They further stressed that the government’s goal was to tackle inefficiencies, attract investment, and create a market-driven operation where fuel prices are determined by market forces. Dangote Refinery, according to them, was a major player in this sector and had only validated and widened the progress made by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in his Renewed Hope Agenda.