Shettima Cautions PENGASSAN Against Disrupting Dangote Refinery Operations

Vice President Kashim Shettima has issued a stern warning to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), urging the union to refrain from any actions that could disrupt operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. He described the multi-billion-dollar facility as a strategic national asset vital to Nigeria’s economic recovery.

Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Shettima—representing President Bola Tinubu—praised Aliko Dangote’s commitment to domestic investment. He referred to the industrialist as “not just an individual but an institution,” whose contributions continue to shape Nigeria’s industrial landscape.

“Aliko Dangote is the leading light in Nigeria. How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,” Shettima stated, emphasizing that Dangote could have chosen to invest in global tech giants like Microsoft or Amazon but instead committed over $10 billion to Nigeria’s economy.

The Vice President called on labour unions and the private sector to exercise restraint and patriotism, stressing the importance of industrial harmony for national stability and investor confidence. “It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” he said.

Shettima revealed that the Federal Government had tasked NESG with resolving the ongoing tensions between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery. He expressed confidence that the summit would produce far-reaching recommendations to safeguard the refinery’s operations and the broader industrial climate.

“This refinery was financed through equity investment, debt finance, and loans from both local and foreign banks. It must function to service that debt, and we cannot allow national interests to be jeopardized over disputes that can be resolved through dialogue,” he added.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting large-scale investments, Shettima concluded by assuring stakeholders that steps would be taken to preserve industrial harmony and promote Nigeria as a safe and attractive destination for business.