The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday warned that any attempt to undermine the operations of the Dangote Refinery by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) would be resisted by the country’s youths.
NANS National President, Olushola Oladoja, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the project represents the collective destiny of over 200 million Nigerians.
According to him, the completion and operation of the refinery, with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, marks a turning point for Nigeria’s economic survival.
“With Nigeria’s average daily fuel consumption standing at about 550,000 barrels per day, this refinery has the potential to make our nation self-sufficient and create room for export, thereby changing the narrative of fuel importation,” he said.
Oladoja urged stakeholders, particularly the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and NUPENG, to place national interest above personal gain.
He stressed that Nigerian students would resist any cartel, group, or institution—domestic or foreign—that attempts to frustrate the project.
“This is a battle for the survival of our economy and the dignity of our nation,” he added.
The NANS leader commended Aliko Dangote for what he described as unmatched patriotism, saying his decision to invest massively in Nigeria rather than abroad was proof of his love for the country.
Oladoja noted that the refinery would not only create jobs but also sustain the economy for generations.
“This is not just about a refinery. It is about survival, sovereignty, and the dignity of our nation. NANS is watching, and we will not allow vested interests to mortgage our future,” he declared.
NUPENG, PENGASSAN, and Dangote have been engrossed in a series of industrial face-offs in recent times.
The recent flare-up was ignited by an alleged breach of an agreement. On September 9, 2025, Dangote and NUPENG signed a Memorandum of Understanding after a government-mediated meeting, affirming the refinery workers’ constitutional right to unionise. However, within 48 hours, NUPENG accused the Dangote Group of bad faith: ordering truck drivers to strip off union stickers and report for loading, an act the union called intimidation. Dangote retorted, dismissing the allegations as “cheap blackmail.”
The PUNCH
