Mass Protest in Kaduna Over Dangote Refinery Crisis

A large crowd of demonstrators on Monday blocked major roads in Kaduna during a protest supporting the Dangote Refinery and opposing what they described as efforts by oil importers and some labour groups to weaken Nigeria’s local refining industry.

The protest, organized by the Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP), began at Murtala Mohammed Square and moved through key streets including Alkali Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Muhammadu Buhari Way.

The protesters carried placards with messages calling for an end to fuel importation cartels and protection of local refining businesses.According to the group, the protest was part of a wider campaign that started in Abuja on October 2.

The movement said it wanted the Federal Government to take firm steps to protect the Dangote Refinery and other local refiners from policies and actions that could discourage domestic production.

The group accused a network of oil importers of working with some union leaders to frustrate the progress made in local refining. It claimed that these interests have a long history of sabotaging industries in Nigeria, including the textile sector that once thrived in Kaduna.

PANEP said the same pattern was now being repeated in the petroleum industry to maintain control over fuel importation and pricing.The organization also blamed the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for supporting the agenda of the importers through its ongoing dispute with the Dangote Refinery.

It alleged that recent actions by the union were aimed at disrupting local refining rather than protecting workers’ interests.PANEP called on President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Minister of Petroleum Resources, to intervene urgently.

The group urged the government to ensure that local refineries receive crude oil under the same terms given to foreign refineries. It added that such a policy would protect investments and encourage more participation in the refining sector.

Speakers at the rally warned that failure to protect the Dangote Refinery could damage investor confidence and affect the country’s economic recovery. They said local refining was already reducing fuel prices and helping Nigerians cope with the cost of living, but that these gains could be lost if the refinery was not supported.

The protesters demanded strict government action against those they described as “economic saboteurs” and called for heavy tariffs on imported fuel to encourage local production. They said countries that apply tariffs do so to safeguard their economies and that Nigeria should not be different.

The protest came amid an ongoing dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery management over claims of unfair treatment of workers and the alleged replacement of Nigerian staff with foreign employees. The disagreement led to several meetings between both parties and the Federal Government.

After a series of discussions that extended late into the night at the Office of the National Security Adviser, both sides finally reached a truce to prevent further disruption. The government had earlier warned that the conflict could affect the economy and national energy stability if not resolved.

The Kaduna rally concluded with renewed calls on the government to defend local industries and act quickly against anyone found working to frustrate Nigeria’s move toward self-sufficiency in fuel production.