Yoruba Youth, Students Accuse Oil Unions of Sabotaging Dangote Refinery

...As Protesters in Ibadan urge Tinubu to act swiftly, back local refining, and curb foreign fuel dependence

A coalition of Yoruba youth and Nigerian students has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other key stakeholders to intervene in the ongoing crisis involving the Dangote Refinery and major oil unions, accusing the unions of economic sabotage.

The protest, organized by the Coalition of Yoruba Youth and Nigerian Students, took place in Ibadan on Tuesday, with demonstrators demanding protection for the Dangote Refinery from what they described as “agents of economic regression.”

Speaking during the protest, Comrade Benedict Adetunji, National President of the National Association of Oduduwa Students, alleged that major oil unions, including PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN, were colluding with international oil traders and marketers to frustrate the operations of the Dangote Refinery. 

“The recent actions of these unions are anti-national, unpatriotic, and amount to outright sabotage of Nigeria’s economic interest,” Adetunji said.

Also addressing the crowd, student leader Comrade Adekunle Adeniyi condemned what he described as the importation of adulterated fuel by the unions. He urged President Tinubu to ensure fair and competitive crude oil allocations to all Nigerian-owned refineries and to ban the importation of petroleum products to encourage full-scale local refining. 

“We appeal to Mr. President to rise up and protect Nigerian investments like the Dangote Refinery. Domestic refining is the key to economic sovereignty,” Adeniyi stated.

During the protest, the Executive Assistant on Security to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Compol Sunday Odukoya (Rtd), addressed the protesters and assured them that their demands would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for swift action.

“Your concerns have been noted and will be delivered to the relevant quarters for immediate implementation,” Odukoya said while commending the peaceful conduct of the demonstration.

The protest follows rising tension between Dangote Refinery and oil unions, as the refinery seeks to ramp up operations amid what it claims are efforts to undermine its progress.

AFA