On Tuesday, a group of prominent Nigerians expressed concern over the implications of the recent clash between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for investor confidence and economic stability.
The group, comprising religious leaders, corporate figures, and civil society members, among others, said in a joint statement that Nigerians have for decades endured the collapse of government-run refineries, the loss of trillions of naira to petrol subsidies, and reliance on fuel imports.
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“These failures left citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity. In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents more than a private venture; it is a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve,” the group noted.
“Already, the refinery has begun to ease supply pressures, with petrol prices in some parts of the country dropping from around N1,500 per litre to about N820, a 55 per cent reduction.”
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It explained that the impact of these measures on transport costs and food prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity and private enterprise can benefit daily life.
The signatories include Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic bishop of Sokoto Diocese; Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, the emir of Kano; Arunma Oteh, a former vice president of the World Bank; Atedo Peterside, a former chairman of Cadbury Nigeria and human rights activist Aisha Yesufu.
Others are Osita Chidoka, a former aviation minister; Sola Akinyede, a former senator representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency; Opeyemi Adamolekun; Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri; Abubakar Siddique Mohammed; Obonganwan Barbara Etim James; Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman; and Dudu Mamman Manuga.
Potential risks
The group noted that industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk keeping domestic and foreign investors at bay when Nigeria desperately needs capital to deepen growth.
The signatories emphasised that a refinery on a scale as vast as 650,000 barrels per day is a national lifeline, which must be protected from operational disruptions that may have profound consequences on energy security and inflation.
The group suggested three broad principles to guide the resolution of the dispute, including respect for workers’ rights, protection of markets & productivity and social responsibility & accountability.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Nigeria lost billions of naira to last PENGASSAN strike – NNPC chief
“Workers’ rights must be respected. The Constitution guarantees the right to organise and to demand fair treatment. No enterprise can succeed without motivated, fairly treated workers,” it said.
“Markets and productivity must be protected. The right to organise cannot become a license to hold the economy hostage. Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded,” it stated further.
It noted that concerns about monopoly or market dominance should not be resolved by industrial actions, adding that Nigeria has institutions, such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which must handle such grievances.
“Where there are legitimate issues of pricing or dominance, the proper channel is through these statutory bodies, not strikes that harm ordinary Nigerians. Moreover, as has been noted, there is no legal monopoly here; others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise,” the group said.
It commended the federal government, labour unions, and Dangote Refinery for stepping back from confrontation and resolving the dispute through dialogue, urging that this spirit of constructive engagement has become a template for the future.
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