A coalition of eminent Nigerians, including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, former Central Bank Governor Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, and renowned banker Atedo Peterside, has cautioned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other labour unions against actions capable of sabotaging national investments, particularly the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a joint statement signed by Peterside, Sanusi, Kukah, Osita Chidoka, Opeyemi Adamolekun, and several others, the group described recent disruptions and threats of industrial action targeting the refinery as unfortunate and dangerous to Nigeria’s energy security and investment climate.
While acknowledging that government intervention had helped de-escalate tensions, the signatories emphasised that labour disputes should be resolved through dialogue and restraint, rather than confrontation.
“The right to organise cannot become a licence to hold the economy hostage.
“Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded.
“Industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk discouraging both domestic and foreign investment at a time when Nigeria most needs capital and innovation,” the statement read.
The group lamented that for decades, Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports and the collapse of government-owned refineries had caused widespread hardship, inflation, and insecurity.
According to them, the emergence of the Dangote Refinery marks a pivotal shift in the country’s energy and economic trajectory.
They hailed the facility as “a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve,” noting that Nigerians were already feeling its positive impact through a significant drop in fuel prices, from about ₦1,500 per litre to around ₦820 in some areas, with ripple effects on transport and food costs.
“This impact on transport and food prices gives Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life.
“It also sends a message to investors at home and abroad that genuine industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria,” they said.
The group further called for a balance between labour rights and economic stability, urging workers’ unions to pursue their objectives responsibly and within the confines of the law.
On allegations that the Dangote Refinery constitutes a monopoly, the signatories dismissed such claims, stressing that the petroleum sector remains open to all investors capable of meeting regulatory and financial requirements.
“There is no legal monopoly here. Others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise.
“Stakeholders with genuine competition concerns should engage the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) rather than resort to strikes or blockades,” they clarified.
Commending the Federal Government, labour unions, and Dangote Group for choosing dialogue over confrontation, the group urged all parties to institutionalise constructive engagement as a long-term conflict-resolution framework.
“This crisis is not about one refinery or one business. It is about the future of our economy, whether we continue a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a nation anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity.
“The Dangote Refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened — as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile,” they concluded.
Other signatories include Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Obonganwan Barbara Etim James, Senator Sola Akinyede, Dudu Mamman Manuga, Dr Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Arunma Oteh, and activist Aisha Yesufu.
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