The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised alarm over what it calls a deliberate campaign to cripple the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing the situation as a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy and investment climate.
The ACF expressed concern that the refinery, widely regarded as Nigeria’s largest and most modern indigenous crude oil processing facility, is facing challenges from regulatory interference, crude oil supply disruptions, and labour disputes.
According to the forum, these issues are fueled by entrenched interests determined to protect their control over Nigeria’s oil sector. Since its conception, implementation, and commissioning, the Dangote Refinery has encountered numerous hurdles, including pressure on workers to join the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which the forum describes as coercive and unconstitutional. The success of the refinery is seen as a threat to the inefficiencies and corrupt practices in Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.
The ACF condemned PENGASSAN’s refusal to comply with court orders restraining it from interfering with the refinery’s operations, stressing the potential for industrial actions to disrupt the facility.
The forum aligns with calls from key senators advising workers to defer unionization efforts until the refinery stabilizes as a workplace.
The ACF warned that destabilizing the Dangote Refinery risks discouraging both domestic and foreign investors, sending negative records about Nigeria’s business environment. It urged the federal government to designate the refinery as a national strategic asset, ensuring its protection under national security laws.The forum also called for a judicial inquiry to identify and sanction those behind repeated industrial disruptions.
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