The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a leading voice of Northern Nigeria, has condemned what it described as a ‘thinly disguised attempt to sabotage’ the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Company, cautioning that such actions pose a threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and investor confidence.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum expressed concern over the persistent challenges facing the refinery since its inception, including regulatory hurdles, crude oil supply constraints, pricing disputes, and labor unrest.
ACF lamented that despite the dedication of the refinery’s founder, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, powerful vested interests continue to undermine the facility in a bid to retain control over Nigeria’s oil sector.
‘The challenges confronting the refinery bear the imprint of entrenched cabals bent on sustaining their asphyxiating grip on the oil industry and the national economy,’ the statement said, describing the refinery as Nigeria’s ‘largest and most modern indigenous crude oil processing facility.’
The forum specifically criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for allegedly defying a court order restraining it from disrupting refinery operations.
‘No law-abiding organisation should disregard a valid court order,’ the ACF added.
While affirming workers’ rights to unionize, ACF stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly and supported calls from Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Ali Ndume that the refinery should stabilise before any unionisation activities commence.
‘Workers should focus on helping the refinery become fully operational before introducing union activities,’ the forum stated, adding that the facility should be treated as a strategic national asset deserving of protection from sabotage.
The ACF also warned that any attempt to cripple the refinery would send a negative message to both domestic and international investors. It urged the Federal Government to classify the Dangote Refinery as a strategic national security asset, and take measures to shield it from external and internal threats.
The forum expressed support for ongoing Federal Government-led negotiations with labour unions, but insisted that sanctions must be imposed on any group that violates lawful directives or acts in a manner that endangers national interests.
‘Putting down the Dangote Refinery is a potent disincentive to private investment and a blow to Nigeria’s industrial future,’ ACF warned, urging labour unions to act with patriotism and resist what it called ‘international machinations aimed at sabotaging indigenous industrial development.’