Youth Group Cautions Against Sabotage Of Dangote Refinery

The Nigeria Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative (NYAGGI) has issued a stern warning against any attempts to sabotage the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, stressing that such actions would have severe consequences for the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NYAGGI, led by Comrade Ambassador Shuaibu Abdulkadir, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enforce the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and ensure the protection of the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.

Abdulkadir praised President Tinubu’s directive to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira, arguing that the refinery’s success is crucial for Nigeria’s economic self-reliance and its role as a significant player in the global petroleum industry. He expressed concern that despite the substantial investment in the refinery, it is still compelled to import crude oil, while international oil companies (IOCs) and certain regulatory bodies have created a market structure that favors exporting crude and importing refined products.

The group called for accountability among the leadership of the IOCs, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for any actions that could undermine the refinery’s operations.

Abdulkadir emphasized the importance of supporting indigenous initiatives like the Dangote Refinery to safeguard Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and sustainable development. He criticized the current model where Nigeria exports raw materials and imports refined products, calling it unsustainable and harmful to national development.

The group also highlighted the refinery’s potential to reduce petroleum product prices across the country, noting that this benefit is under threat from foreign interests that prefer a dysfunctional Nigerian refining sector to maintain their exploitative practices. Abdulkadir urged for a comprehensive investigation into the operations of the NNPCL to clarify Nigeria’s true oil production capacity.