Don’t kill Dangote Refinery, Yoruba students Protest Warn Oil Unions

Some members of the National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS), Coalition of Yoruba Students, and the Yoruba Movement on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, in support of the Dangote Refinery, amid its ongoing dispute with oil sector unions and marketers.

The demonstrators converged at the Iwo Road Roundabout, near the end of the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway, before marching through major streets of the city, singing solidarity songs and displaying banners in defence of the refinery.

The protesters, dressed in matching shirts emblazoned with the message “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery,” carried placards with inscriptions such as “#StopSabotage,” “#EndPENGASSAN,” “#EndDAPPMAN,” “#DangoteRefineryIsANationalAsset,” and “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery.”

They accused “vested interests” within the oil industry of allegedly working to frustrate the operations of Africa’s largest single-train refinery.

“This protest is to draw the attention of the government and Nigerians to the coordinated attempt by some interests to cripple the refinery,” one of the placards read.

Speaking at the rally, NAOS President, Olalere Adetunji, called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant federal agencies to intervene urgently to protect the refinery from what he described as “economic sabotage.”

“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to protect the Dangote Refinery and ensure that labour and marketers’ actions do not derail Nigeria’s move toward fuel self-sufficiency,” Adetunji said.

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He described the refinery as a “national treasure” capable of ending decades of fuel importation and providing massive employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“The refinery represents hope for millions of Nigerians. If we allow it to fail, we will all suffer for it,” he added.

The protest, which drew large crowds of students and youth groups, caused minor traffic disruptions along Iwo Road and adjoining routes.

However, security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were present to maintain law and order.

As of the time of filing this report, the demonstration remained peaceful, with protesters insisting they would continue their march until government officials acknowledge their concerns.

The protest comes amid rising tension between the Dangote Refinery and major oil unions, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), over labour and supply disputes.

The refinery, which began operations earlier this year, is seen as a key step toward achieving Nigeria’s long-term goal of ending fuel importation.

Recent protests and statements from various groups have highlighted growing public concern that conflicts between the refinery and industry players could jeopardise the country’s push for energy independence.