- Vice President Shettima cautioned PENGASSAN to handle its clash with Dangote Refinery carefully as it could affect investor confidence in Nigeria.
- The crisis began after Dangote Refinery sacked 800 Nigerian workers and replaced them with Indian expatriates, sparking union action.
- Shettima described Aliko Dangote as not just an individual but an institution, stressing the importance of protecting the refinery.
- He urged Nigerians to see the refinery as a national economic asset and safeguard it for future generations.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to tread carefully in its ongoing dispute with Dangote Refinery, warning that the outcome could shape foreign investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
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The Vice President’s caution comes after a heated faceoff between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery. The crisis erupted following the dismissal of 800 Nigerian workers, who were reportedly replaced with Indian expatriates. PENGASSAN demanded that Dangote Group respect Nigerian labour laws by allowing its members union rights, but the company resisted, leading to industrial action.
Speaking during the opening session of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja, Shettima emphasized the need for Nigerians to rally behind Aliko Dangote and his multi-billion-dollar refinery project. He described Dangote as “not just an individual but an institution,” insisting that how the country treats him will shape how outsiders judge Nigeria.
Shettima further highlighted that Dangote could have chosen to invest his $10 billion in global tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, which would have multiplied his fortune. Instead, he decided to invest in Nigeria, and according to the Vice President, it is the responsibility of the nation to protect and promote the refinery as a symbol of economic strength.
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He called on Nigerians to “jealously promote, protect, preserve and project the interest” of the refinery, stressing that it represents not only Dangote’s vision but also a critical national economic asset for future generations.
