The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Federal Government to ensure maximum protection of the Dangote Refinery, its facilities, and fuel distribution trucks from sabotage by groups opposed to the refinery’s impact on Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In addition, the student body emphasized the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the ongoing disagreement between the refinery’s management and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
This position was made public in a statement issued by Usman Adamu Nagwaza, Senate President of NANS.
According to the statement, the leadership of NANS has closely monitored the dispute between the refinery and NUPENG. While acknowledging the vital role unions play in defending human rights, the association stressed that freedom of association remains a constitutional right, and no individual or group should be forced into union membership.
NANS warned that if the disagreement is not resolved amicably, the situation could snowball into a national crisis, potentially triggering fuel scarcity. The association cautioned that such a development would inflict severe damage on the nation’s fragile economy.
The statement praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for sustaining fuel availability in recent months, noting that this stability must not be jeopardized. It highlighted the importance of supporting both the government and the private sector, particularly the Dangote Refinery, which has become a significant contributor to the country’s energy supply and economic recovery.
NANS further expressed concern over intelligence reports suggesting that an oil cartel—long accused of exploiting subsidy scams, fuel smuggling, and fostering import dependence—may be plotting to attack the refinery’s newly deployed Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks. The alleged plan, according to the reports, includes attempts to set the trucks ablaze in a bid to destabilize the refinery’s operations.
The association urged NUPENG to prioritize dialogue and avoid actions that could inadvertently serve the interests of saboteurs bent on undermining national progress.
NANS also called on the National Security Adviser, alongside the security agencies, to take proactive measures to protect the refinery as a critical national asset. The statement emphasized that any attack on the facility would directly threaten Nigeria’s economic future.
Reaffirming its commitment, NANS stated that it would not stand by and watch individuals or groups attempt to undermine the refinery, which it described as a beacon of employment opportunities and a center of knowledge transfer for young Nigerian graduates.
Finally, the student body urged the Federal Government to take all necessary steps to safeguard the refinery and prevent disruptions that could lead to another round of fuel scarcity. It described the Dangote Refinery as a game-changer that has significantly eased fuel supply pressures in the country while driving economic growth.
