Concerned Nigerian statemen, leaders and stakeholders have weighed into the Dangote Refinery Dispute, advising, in the main, that the refinery should not be undermined but strengthened.
In their statement signed by Atedo Peterside, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II [Sarkin Kano] and ten others, dated October 6, 2025, they said the crisis was not about a refinery or any other business.
According to them, “It is about the direction of our economy: whether we will continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity.
“The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened — as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile.”
Read the statement as reproduced in extenso below:
“We, the undersigned, note with concern the recent disputes and disruptions surrounding the
Dangote Refinery. Although the immediate crisis has been de-escalated through government
mediation and renewed dialogue between labour and management, the episode raises important lessons for Nigeria’s economic future.
“For decades, Nigerians endured the collapse of government-owned refineries, the waste of
trillions of naira in subsidies, and dependence on fuel imports. These failures left citizens
exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity. In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents
more than a private venture; it is a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can
achieve.
“Already, the refinery has begun to ease supply pressures, with petrol prices in some parts of the country dropping from around ₦1,500 per litre to about ₦820 — a 55% reduction. This impact on transport costs and food prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life. It also signals to investors at home and abroad that industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria.
“However, the strikes and threats that accompanied this transition send the wrong signals.
Industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk discouraging both domestic and foreign
investment at a time when Nigeria most needs capital and innovation. A refinery of this scale is a national lifeline, with profound consequences for jobs, energy security, and inflation.
We wish to underscore three principles:
“1. Workers’ rights must be respected. The Constitution guarantees the right to organise and to demand fair treatment. No enterprise can succeed without motivated, fairly treated workers.
“2. Markets and productivity must be protected. The right to organise cannot become a license to hold the economy hostage. Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded.
“3. Social responsibility and accountability must remain central. Investors of this magnitude
must operate transparently, uphold fair labour practices, and reinvest in the communities they serve.
“We also note that concerns about monopoly or market dominance should not be settled by
disruptive industrial action. Nigeria has institutions, such as the Federal Competition and
Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), that are mandated to assess such claims. Where there are legitimate issues of pricing or dominance, the proper channel is through these statutory bodies, not strikes that harm ordinary Nigerians. Moreover, as has been noted, there is no legal monopoly here; others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise.
“We commend the Federal Government, labour unions, and Dangote Refinery for stepping back from confrontation and resolving this dispute through dialogue. We urge that this spirit of constructive engagement become a template for the future. At the same time, we must stress the dangers that such disruptions pose to investor confidence, economic stability, and Nigeria’s strategic interest in reducing dependency on imports.
“This crisis is not about a refinery or any other business. It is about the direction of our economy: whether we will continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity. The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened — as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile.”
Below is a list of the signatories to the statement:
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