Coalition Rallies Nigerians to Defend Dangote Refinery
…Refinery Denies Anti-Labour Allegations
By Patience Ikpeme
A coalition of civic actors under the umbrella of the Coalition for Economic Liberation and Social Justice (CELSJ) has urged Nigerians to rise in defence of the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a national lifeline for the country’s energy future.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday night, and signed by its President, Comrade Godfrey Boma, the coalition warned that any setback to the refinery’s operations would drag Nigeria back into heavy dependence on imported petroleum products.
“The Dangote Refinery represents one of the most significant interventions aimed at boosting energy security, creating jobs, and reducing the burden on households,” Boma said. “This is a defining moment. Nigerians must come together to defend this refinery because it is our collective lifeline.”
The group expressed concern over what it described as attempts to destabilise the refinery through orchestrated disputes, accusing the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of acting under the influence of vested interests.
“Barely forty-eight hours after the suspension of its strike, NUPENG has suddenly begun a new round of blackmail against the Dangote Refinery. We are reliably informed that a bribe of $5 million has exchanged hands between oil principalities and some compromised union leaders to frustrate the refinery’s operations,” Boma alleged.
According to him, the pattern of events points to a deliberate strategy to stall the refinery’s stabilisation and force the country back into fuel import dependence.
“Let it be known that Nigerians will never allow a handful of profiteers to sabotage a refinery that has already begun reshaping the country’s energy future. The same forces that built fortunes off decades of importation rackets are the ones now using NUPENG to destabilise the industry. This is a direct attack on the Nigerian people, and it must not stand,” he declared.
CELSJ appealed for a nationwide mobilisation to protect the refinery, adding that the federal government and security agencies must ensure that agreements with all stakeholders are respected in line with existing labour laws.
“Every kobo spent importing fuel is a direct theft of jobs, a direct sabotage of growth, and a direct burden on the Nigerian household,” the group said. “The Dangote Refinery is one of the few interventions that has begun to break the chains of dependency, and no cabal or compromised union must be allowed to drag us back into darkness.”
The coalition specifically called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and other security agencies to monitor NUPENG’s leadership.
“Nigerians will not tolerate another season of strikes designed and paid for by corrupt oil barons. Those who pocketed bribes to undermine national interest must be exposed and prosecuted without delay,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed NUPENG’s allegations of anti-labour practices, monopolistic behaviour, and planned fuel price hikes, describing them as “unfounded and recycled falsehoods.”
In a statement issued on Friday, the company said the claims were not only misleading but also failed to reflect its commitment to workers’ rights and national economic growth.
“Assertions that drivers are compelled to waive union rights are categorically false,” the refinery stated. “Employees are free to affiliate with any recognised trade union.”
It clarified that the ongoing dispute involves NUPENG’s Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit and does not implicate the refinery in any breach of labour rights.
Central to the union’s complaints is the roll-out of over 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered bulk trucks, which NUPENG claims could displace existing jobs. But Dangote Group insisted the initiative is designed to support Nigeria’s energy transition strategy rather than eliminate employment.
“The deployment of CNG-powered trucks is a strategic initiative designed to support national energy transition goals, not to displace existing jobs. Each truck will be operated by a six-person team, with drivers receiving salaries significantly above the national minimum wage, plus medical cover, pensions, housing allowances, and long-term access to housing loans,” the company explained.
Dangote Refinery further disclosed plans to expand its CNG fleet to 10,000 trucks by the end of the year, creating over 60,000 direct jobs.
On claims of monopolistic behaviour, the company pointed out that more than 30 private refinery licences have been issued, with active developments by BUA, Aradel, Walter Smith, and the Edo Refinery.
“While we are a major industry player, our presence has revitalised the downstream sector, reopened previously dormant petrol stations and restored investor confidence,” it said.
The refinery also rejected suggestions that it intends to raise fuel prices, noting instead that its operations have stabilised supply and lowered costs.
“Diesel prices, for instance, have dropped by over 30 percent in the past year, and petrol prices in Nigeria are now reportedly lower than in oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia and 40 percent cheaper than neighbouring West African countries,” the management stated.
Dangote cited its N720 billion investment in CNG infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce logistics costs and improve fuel distribution nationwide. It also acknowledged the interventions of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in ongoing dialogue with stakeholders.
Since its commissioning just over a year ago, Dangote Refinery has transformed Nigeria into a net exporter of refined fuels, with supplies reaching markets as far as the United States. Its by-products such as polypropylene, LPG, and naphtha are said to be stimulating growth in aviation, manufacturing, and agro-processing.
The company added that its domestic LPG supply has contributed to a reduction in cooking gas prices, promoting cleaner household energy use and reducing dependence on firewood and kerosene.
With over 570,000 direct and indirect jobs created, Dangote Refinery said it is positioning itself as a hub for skills development and technology transfer in Nigeria.
“At Dangote, we have chosen to invest boldly in Nigeria’s future and we will continue to do so. It is time others follow suit,” the statement concluded.
