Author: user user

Power struggle in the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) National Working Committee (NWC) has deepened the crisis in the opposition platform ahead of next month’s National Convention.

The convention, scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State capital, is billed for November 15 and 16.

The fresh discord is triggered by the decision of the divided NWC to dissolve the Akwa Ibom State chapter and set up a caretaker committee.

While a section of the party leadership, led by the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, approved the decision, other party officers, led by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, voided it.

Anyanwu explained that there was no formal sitting of the NWC where the decision was ratified.

The secretary chided the Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for misleading the Akwa Ibom chapter and the public with a fabricated decision.

Trouble started when the secretary rejected a directive from the chairman to summon the NWC meeting to deliberate on the composition of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Committee.

Ologunagba explained that a new caretaker committee for the chapter was set up to replace the state executive committee controlled by the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who had defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, Anyanwu said any meeting of NWC presided by Damagum without a prior notice by him as provided by the PDP Constitution is illegal, null and void.

The secretary said that he has the constitutional duty of taking the notes of the meeting, which was not exercised.

Anyanwu, insisting that the NWC never decided on the dissolution of the leadership of the party in the state, pointed out that the National Executive Committee (NEC), and not the NWC, has the power to dissolve any state executive committee.

A letter by Anyanwu, dated October 1, and titled: ‘RE: Dissolution of Akwa Ibom State Working Committee,’ reads: ‘My attention has been drawn to the purported press statement by the National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of our party, announcing the dissolution of the State Working Committee of Akwa Ibom State.

‘For purposes of clarity, that press statement should be discountenanced because there was no formal sitting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in which such a decision was taken.

‘It is not in the official position and duties of the national Publicity secretary to take actions relating to the implementation of the decisions of the National Working Committee of our party. As a result, the purported press statement is null and void and of no effect.

‘The State Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State stands un-dissolved.

‘Please, consider this letter as the rightful authority for you to continue in your duties as provided in the PDP Constitution 2017, as amended.’

Anyanwu is a member of the Nyesom Wike camp that has been locked in conflict with Damagum over the position of the national leadership on outstanding party issues.

Anyanwu can’t void NWC’s decision, says Ologunagba

Ologunagba said Anyanwu, who claimed to have voided the NWC’s decision, went beyond his constitutional role.

Citing the PDP Constitution, he said only the national chairman can summon any meeting of the party, adding that the 607th meeting was duly held and decisions binding on the party taken.

He said 16 of the 18 NWC members attended the meeting where the situation in the Akwa Ibom chapter was discussed and decision taken.

Ologunagba dismissed reports of a crisis between the acting national chairman and the national secretary over the conduct of congresses in some states and the setting up of a caretaker committee for the chapter.

He said it was important for every member of the NWC to understand their role as contained in the constitution to avoid violations.

The secretary, who also spoke on Channels Television last night, accused Anyanwu of promoting his personal interest

He said: ‘There was indeed a meeting of the NWC summoned by the national chairman in line with the constitution. It was attended by 16 of 19 members. The national secretary was absent, and having failed to issue the notice of meeting as directed by the chairman, the chairman exercised his powers under Section 29 of our constitution to summon the meeting. ‘Decisions were taken, including the dissolution of the Akwa Ibom executives, and I was directed to communicate same. That is what I did.’

He insisted that Anyanwu’s rejection of the decision was not in defence of party interest.

Ologunagba added: ‘What you are seeing is the projection of personal interest above the collective interest of the PDP. It is not in the duties of the national secretary to nullify decisions of the NWC simply because he was absent or disagrees personally,’ Ologunagba declared.

Explaining why the Akwa Ibom executives were dissolved, he said the NWC acted on reports that the state structure was compromised and in open alignment with the APC.

He said: ‘Section 10 (6) of our constitution is clear: no member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the PDP. The Akwa Ibom executive was openly controlled by the governor, who even boasted in public that he was in charge of PDP and APC in the state. For us, that was unacceptable.’

Ogidi: caretaker committee in order

The National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Chief Emmanuel Ogidi defended the setting up of the caretaker committees for Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

He said: ‘Since the governors left, we thought all was well. We found out that a few people were taking advantage of it. The NWC of the party intervened and set up a caretaker committee to manage the affairs, pending when the issues would be resolved. It is an NWC decision that must be respected.’

Last month, members of the group met at the minister’s official residence in Abuja, warning that failure to meet their demands would ‘render the proposed convention invalid as legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.’

At the meeting were Wike; PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu; former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

The meeting was also attended by the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Senator Phillips Aduda, Senator George Sekibo, Micah Jiba, some serving and former members of the National Assembly, as well as some state chairmen and some BoT members.

A communique read by Ortom listed the demands:

Fresh congresses to be held in Ebonyi and Anambra states in compliance with subsisting court judgments;

A new Southeast Zonal Congress must be conducted.

The outcome of the Southsouth Congress in Calabar, upheld by the courts, must be respected;

PDP should conduct the Ekiti local government congresses in line with judicial pronouncements;

There should be no micro-zoning of offices beyond the general zoning formula adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to maintain peace and stability; and

The national chairmanship position must remain in the Northcentral, consistent with the zoning arrangement of the 2021 convention.

Before the meeting, Wike, who had spoken on the preparations for the convention on a television station programme, said: ‘The issue of the national convention is not the problem; the issue is the problem leading to the convention, and people should understand that.

‘If they are not well taken care of, there is a likelihood that the convention will not hold.’

Wike also said the choice of venue was not in dispute, insisting that the party must resolve its internal issues before convening.

He stressed: ‘The venue is not the subject matter, the subject matter is: ‘Have you done what you were supposed to do before holding that convention? If not, it may be a setback.’

Nearly a week after the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said his administration would do more to attract investors to the state.

He said the upgrade of the airport had rewritten its 43-year-old history, but his government would not stop just yet, as its vision was to make the facility welcoming to investors, who would come into the state and would wish to return.

The governor, who spoke at the Jagz Hospitality Conference, held in commemoration of the first anniversary of the hotel, said government would sustain its policies, which attracted the hotel to the state and had been attracting many other businesses, while it would also up the ante to ensure more investors were attracted to the state.

He added that the state government would continue to support businesses to thrive, irrespective of the economic challenges in the country.

Governor Makinde lauded the management and workers of The Jagz Hotel, urging them not to rest on their oars.

He said: ‘I am glad to be here one year after we inaugurated this business. The business has not folded up and it is still waxing very strong.

‘It is not by accident when you see things happen. It is because people are putting in hard work. They are putting in everything necessary to keep the venture going.

‘So, the staff-members, the management, and even some of you that are patrons here, let me commend you for roles you are playing, especially the management. It is not easy.

‘Since that one year, there has been a lot within the economic environment, and that you are still standing shows that you have together a team. And, I can only assure you that as a government, whatever you need from us, please ask, we will oblige.’

The governor addressed the issue of import substitution, noting that the theory that the country’s economic challenges would go away once its people focused only on the local economic environment was defective.

He said Oyo State had remained open to local businesses coming into the state.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, said the Governor Makinde administration had expanded the economy through tourism and solid mineral development.

He called on stakeholders in tourism and hospitality business to support the government.

Georgian Cup’s serial winners, El-Amin polo team , will be targeting a grandeur 30th celebration of high-goal polo dominance during the eagerly anticipated 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament expected to hold later this month.

El-Amin Patron who doubles as the President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, earlier in the year declared that the 2025 edition of the Kaduna International Polo Tournament will be the best organized in years with more teams and exciting games on a re-laid pitch at the Murtala Square venue for the grand fiesta.

Though details on the epoch celebration are still sketchy, the team’s long-standing history of success and dominance in the sport, including winning the Georgian Cup and sponsoring various tournaments, suggests that a significant and glamorous event awaits everyone.

Babangida hinted that Kaduna Polo Club will put lots of preparation into the polo tournament to ensure that it is unique in the history of the club, adding that the Ahmadu Yakubu Club House will be agog throughout the ten days duration of the tournament.

‘It’s a new beginning for Kaduna Polo Club, it’s a new leadership, we have been elected for about a year plus and we have been working, renovating the pitch and putting the facilities in the best shape,’ Babangida noted. ‘We want to host a unique tournament to showcase the pitch, we want to bring back the glory days of the premier club, Kaduna Polo Club and the most prestigious trophy in Africa, the Georgian Cup.’

He added: ‘We hope to host a special tournament that will celebrate milestones of the ‘game of kings’ in Kaduna and indeed across the country. We are banking on the goodwill of everyone, our sponsors and partners to support us to make this tournament thrilling and memorable.’

Regarded as Nigeria’s most successful and dominant high-goal power house in polo, El-Amin has won numerous tournaments and trophies both nationally and internationally. They hold the record for winning the prestigious Georgian Cup a record 15 times.

Individually, the El-Amin patron, Babangida, has won the Georgian Cup for a record 16 times. He won it 15 times with El-Amin and once with Kaduna Kakuri in the year 2000.

The Kaduna Polo boss and his El- Amin stars are also the first and only African team to have participated in the Dubai Gold Cup series and the Al-Habtoor Cup Challenge in Dubai.

Babangida has also played a significant role in Nigerian polo, even captaining the Nigerian Polo Eagles to the Federation of International Polo World Cup tournament in Malaysia in 2011 and the Nations Cup of polo in South Africa.

Kaduna remained the home of the glittering Georgian Trophy which was contested for in Nigeria by high-goal teams way back in 1919. Other major prizes that would be carted home by the winners during the upcoming 2025 Kaduna polo festival include the Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup and El Amin Cup.

First Vice President Kaduna Polo Club General Kapeh Kazir who superintends preparation for international event alongside the Tournament Manager Malam Atiku Abubakar Saleh, said the tourney will be the best organized in recent times to make up for the club’s inability to host the fiesta last year due to African Horse Sickness {AHS}

He listed other top laurels that would be at stake during the prestigious polo festival to include Isa Kaita, Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Cup, Sardauna Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Musa Yar’Adua Cup, Dangote Cup and Beginners Cup and among others.

‘We are in high spirits preparing for the 2025 Kaduna International Polo Tournament. Right now, Kaduna Polo Club is ready as we are expecting lots of new selected cups because there are lots of sponsors that have shown interest in sponsoring our tournament,’ the amiable Kapeh assured.

Kelechi Iheanacho was available for the duration of Celtic’s Europa League tie with SC Braga of Portugal but he couldn’t do much as his Scottish side were beaten 2-0 at home.

Celtic had begun the group stage with a 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade a fortnight ago but Braga proved to be too hot for them.

Iheanacho scored in the first game with Red Star Belgrade but he failed to hit target.

In another game, Fenerbahce beat OGC Nice 2-1 with the Super Eagles attacker, Terem Moffi entering the fray in the 59th minute

Also, Super Eagles striker, Cyriel Dessers was not listed for Panathinaikos in their 2-1 home loss to Go Ahead Eagles.

Dessers played the final 20 minutes of their last 4-1 away win at Young Boys but he was not listed for the game because of an ankle complaint.

Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, would ne bursting at its seams tomorrow, October 4, by playing host to the grand finale of the biggest 7-aside football competition at the Showtime Arena, Lekki.

Abuja’s Energy FC-known for their imperious form-will battle it out against Lagos’ own Snowlions FC in what promises to be one of the most electrifying encounters in the tournament’s history. While Energy FC will be hoping to return the trophy to Abuja, the Snowlions are determined to defend their turf in front of a passionate home crowd.

Adding extra spice to the event, some of Nigeria’s top music stars-Zlatan Ibile, Mayorkun, L.A.X, Ibroking, and Blaqbonez-will headline a novelty celebrity match promoting unity and peace.

Dignitaries expected at the finals include Mr. Adeboye Adeyinka (SSA Grassroots Sports Development), Chief Adaralegbe Akintayo (Chairman, TPumpy Concept), Hon. Nasir Ja’oji (SSA President on Citizenship and Leadership), Mr. Dami Orimoloye (SSA Sports to Governor Sanwo-Olu), Ayo Amusan (Country Manager, Puma NG) and other special guests from MTN, DevonKings, Moremonee and Nigerian Breweries.

The event will be a vibrant mix of football, music, and entertainment, with both male and female celebrity matches scheduled to thrill fans before the grand finale.

This year’s showdown marks only the second time in seven years the national final will be staged in Lagos. The last time, at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Abuja’s 12Strong FC defeated Warri’s Obodo Starlights under the floodlights.

Certainly, all eyes would be Lekki, where no question would be asked when defending champions Energy FC stake their claim against the ambitious Snowlions on their home soil with the kick-off slated for 3:00pm prompt.

The Federal Government has promised to complete the ongoing Abuja-Keffi road rehabilitation by December 2026.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, gave the assurance while inspecting the Maraba-Nyanyan section site yesterday.

He said the project, which started in December 2023, spans 43.6 kilometres from the Keffi-bound section, with 41 kilometres completed up to Binda, representing 50 per cent progress.

The project, being executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme and funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was awarded on April 19, 2023, started on December 20, 2023, and was initially scheduled for completion in May 2026.

Goronyo described the Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway as one of the busiest routes into the Federal Capital Territory FCT), as it serves thousands of commuters daily.

The minister noted that the major challenge facing the project is the Abuja-bound section, particularly a three-kilometre stretch of the road that is prone to flooding.

‘A lot of people coming from the Keffi-Nyanya axis experience serious difficulty crossing into Abuja city. We immediately directed the contractor to put in palliative measures and create a route to ease movement,’ he said.

According to him, work on the section will be carried out mainly at night to reduce traffic disruptions.

‘The contractor must fully mobilise to site. We are not happy with the suffering commuters face daily on this arterial road. It is a key corridor for civil servants and residents, and people must have ease of movement,’ Goronyo said.

The minister, who was accompanied by ministry officials and representatives of the contracting firm, said the government would ensure strict monitoring of the project to guarantee its timely completion.

‘We don’t want to see this problem persist. The contractor must finish within the stipulated period,’ Goronyo added.

The Project Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor handling the project, Dong Hong, assured the minister that the firm remained committed to meeting the deadline.

‘We have the confidence to finish this project on time with the highest quality. Much of the work is now being done at night to meet the schedule,’ he said.

The board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Chukwuma Nwokocha as the substantive Group Chief Executive of the group. The appointment took effect yesterday, after the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Nwokocha’s appointment followed the completion of Dr Adekunle Adedeji’s tenure as Acting Chief Executive, during which time the board undertook a formal appointment process in accordance with regulatory requirements.

However, Adedeji will continue in his role as Executive Director and Chief Finance and Value Management Officer of the company.

Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs Sola David-Borha, said the board was delighted with Nwokocha’s appointment, highlighting his strong track record in board governance, financial oversight, strategic transformation as well as regulatory engagement.

She also extended the board’s deep appreciation to Adedeji for his exemplary leadership and dedication; and for steering the affairs of the company and group during the transition period.

She said: ‘It is worthy of mention that under Dr Adedeji’s leadership, the group recorded its best financial performance since inception. The group also successfully completed its rights issue programme which ensured that its banking subsidiary met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirements ahead of the 31 March 2026 deadline’.

Nwokocha is a seasoned banking executive and chartered accountant with over three decades of leadership experience across Africa.

He has held several Chief Executive and Board-level roles in leading financial institutions including Chief Executive, Standard Bank, SA; (the Mozambican subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group), driving strategic growth, governance, and operational excellence. His expertise spans retail and corporate banking, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

The Board is confident that Mr. Nwokocha’s leadership would be instrumental in driving the growth strategy of Stanbic IBTC Group into the future.

Nigeria’s longest-running law reporting publication, the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), has assured Nigerians that the publication has remained consistent with the vision and focus of its founder, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

Established on October 1, 1985, by Chief Fawehinmi, the NWLR has remained consistent for four decades, making it the longest consecutive weekly law report in Nigeria and across Africa.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Nigerian Law Publication House in Ikeja, the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee and Editor of the NWLR, Mr. Oluwole Kehinde, said the publication has stayed true to the vision of its founder.

‘Chief Fawehinmi dreamt that the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports would continue even after his demise, and since September 5, 2009, that dream has been sustained,’ Kehinde said.

To mark the milestone, a public lecture will hold on October 9, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, chairing the event, while a former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), will deliver the keynote address.

The lecture, with the theme: Safeguarding the Legacy of Law Reporting and Embracing the Future in a Technological Era, will examine the role of law reporting in judicial history while charting a path forward in the digital age.

The NWLR has undergone a lot of transformation. Before independence, colonial courts issued official law reports, while private initiatives such as the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (1964-1977) struggled with sustainability.

By the late 1970s, access to Supreme Court judgments was limited to a privileged few. Fawehinmi petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Chief Justice over the practice, which led to a historic 1984 declaration that Supreme Court judgments are public property.

This paved the way for the birth of the NWLR the following year.

Since then, the NWLR has been published uninterrupted for 40 years and has earned recognition beyond Nigeria, especially across Commonwealth countries that practice common law.

In 2019, the report went online, broadening access for legal practitioners, academics, and the general public worldwide.

Kehinde said the publication’s focus is to preserve Nigeria’s legal heritage while embracing innovation in an increasingly technological era.

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho has said that the centrality of Abuja coupled with its rich agro-allied potential is germane to strengthening NPA’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to continuously grow non-oil revenue by connecting local value producers in the non-oil value chain to identified international clusters of demand for their goods.

According to him, the position of Abuja as the centre of the country is strategic to the NPA’s renewed trade facilitation focus that places a high premium on port-hinterland connectivity, which Abuja’s centrality accentuates, presents a seamless linkage with the comparative advantages inherent in all regions of the federation that can be harnessed to sustain growth in the volume and value of Nigeria’s exports.

He said NPA, as Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, is always proud to be associated with the noble cause the Abuja International Trade Fair represents, especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualizing most of Nigeria’s economic aspirations.

He used the opportunity of the ‘NPA Special Day’ to invite the entire trading and investing public to explore the tailor-made simplified export processes and other vistas of opportunity present at the Nigerian Ports Authority.’

According to him:’as some of us are aware, in our bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade we established the Export Process Terminal (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods.’

Dantsoho explained that the EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop-shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification and onward shipment through electronic call-up to the Ports in quick turnaround time thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace.

He said to facilitate the port-hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain; the EPTs have been structured to have a seamless handshake with the Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) as well as the Inland Dry Ports.

‘To align with the economic stabilization resolve of the Federal Government and the theme of the year’s fair ‘Sustainability: Consumption, Incentives and Taxation’ we are unifying our various operational channels into a singular transaction gateway known as the Ports Community System (PCS) which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) which sustainably eliminates all forms of opacity and attendant delays associated with undue human interference,’ he stated.

Dantsoho added that the NSW is the global best practice for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button, saying NPA has put measures in place to link value creators in the remotest part of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere on the globe.

He assured the stakeholder that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair, urging them to visit the NPA’s fully interactive online real time website www.nigerianports.gov.ng to access our growth offerings.

Stakeholders have expressed grave concern over the crisis between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical, warning that the effect could cripple the nation.

According to stakeholders, the trade dispute has put Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s refining hub to test.

They warned that a prolonged dispute could push up fuel prices, strain households and businesses, and discourage local and foreign investors.

They, however, called for a final resolution to avoid such industrial disputes from escalating into a national emergency.

Also, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) expressed grave concern over the action by PENGASSAN, warning that the action amounts to self-help and tantamount to sabotage capable of derailing the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement in Lagos, the Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasised that a conflict is an inevitable feature of the labour ecosystem, and Nigeria has statutory and institutional frameworks to address any, including the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

‘Any action capable of discouraging investment, undermining enterprises sustainability, or harming the workers that the unions claim to protect will be counter-productive. While trade unions have the legitimate right to embark on industrial action, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law.

‘It is unacceptable for any union to conscript or coerce those not interested in its action or disrupt the operations of legitimate businesses not party to the dispute. Treating institutions of labour administration with disdain and resorting to self-help is not only absurd but also against all known Conventions and Recommendations. When employers or workers are aggrieved, there are institutions created to adjudicate or arbitrate in such matters. Nigeria’s recovering economy cannot be sacrificed on the altar of actions and pronouncements that are alien to global and local industrial relations practice,’ he said.

He noted that uninformed and disruptive actions that could jeopardise the nation’s economic survival are neither envisaged nor acceptable in global labour practice.

He said: ‘NECA will not be a passive onlooker as the foundation of Nigeria’s labour ecosystem is trampled upon. While we acknowledge the right to strike, such rights cannot infringe on the rights of others or threaten the survival of enterprises.’

Citing international labour instruments, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98, Oyerinde reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to upholding global labour standards, decent work and responsible business conduct, while not negotiating employers’ rights to manage their enterprises and investments within the ambit of the law.

He stressed that the protection afforded to union officials under international conventions does not extend to sabotage, coercion, or actions that undermine legitimate businesses or threaten national security.

Oyerinde called on the Minister of Labour and Employment to stop the wanton and wilful denigration of the industrial relations system.

He said: ‘With Nigeria sending one of the highest delegations to the ILO conference annually, it is curious that basic industrial relations principles, Conventions, and Recommendations remain poorly applied.’

He called for a resolution through lawful and constructive channels, warning that failure to act decisively could have far-reaching consequences for economic sustainability, job creation and preservation, investment attraction and promotion and national development.

Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said shutting down the oil and gas sector could cripple the nation, describing it as ‘the lifeblood of the economy’ in terms of energy, foreign exchange, and revenue.

He warned against risking national stability for the interests of a few workers, calling PENGASSAN’s action unjustifiable.

‘What about those who have invested? What about consumers and other investors in the value chain? Their interests matter too. The union should not be this selfish, inflicting such pain and disruption on the economy,’ he said.

Yusuf estimated the economic losses at billions of naira.

‘You shut down and disrupt the entire process. By the time you resume, you must start over. The same goes for power stations, which depend on gas. This kind of impunity must not continue just because some people have power over strategic sectors,’ he said.

Prof. Chiwuike Uba, a Development econo­mist as well as Governance, and Public Financial Manage­ment (PFM) expert, said the dispute is not merely an industrial rela­tions issue; it poses significant risks to economic stability, energy security, governance credibility, and the well-being of millions of Ni­gerians.

He said: ‘This crisis is a litmus test of Nigeria’s gover­nance capacity. It examines whether legitimate worker rights and corporate governance can be reconciled with the public interest in essential services.

‘Fiscal authority and social policy must be de­ployed quickly, transparently, and effectively to protect the most vulnerable.

‘At the same time, public institutions must up­hold the rule of law while preventing a narrow industrial dispute from escalating into a national emergency.

‘How Nigeria responds will signal its ability to govern strategic sectors responsibly, protect cit­izens, and maintain credibility in domestic and international markets.’

He said globally, countries with large-scale refining infrastructure, such as India and the U.S., treat disruptions in national refineries as strategic emergencies, often mobilising contingency im­ports, stock releases, and immediate negotiations with unions.

He said the government’s handling of the Dangote crisis would thus be watched not only domestically but by investors and development partners assess­ing institutional reliability.

Also, a lawyer and expert on labour matters, Paul Omoijiade, said Dangote could not prevent his employees from joining the unions.

Noting that the capitalists could not do anything without labour, which is one of the four factors of production, he warned against the implications of trampling on the right of workers to unionise.

Also, a development economist at Governance Professional, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, called for immediate action, noting that industrial disputes should not escalate into a national emergency.

He urged that a neutral tripartite framework, including the Ministry of Labour, NNPCL, Dangote management, PENGASSAN, and an independent arbiter, should negotiate a suspension of supply disruptions while contested dismissals are reviewed.

According to him, contingency supply measures must avert scarcity, including transparent releases of strategic stocks and emergency imports.