The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to protect the Dangote Refinery from alleged sabotage attempts by powerful interests unsettled by its growing influence in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
In a statement signed by Usman Adamu Nagwaza, President of the NANS Senate, the student body expressed concern over the ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). NANS warned that the disagreement, if left unresolved, could escalate into a nationwide fuel crisis.
“While we respect the right of workers to organise and protect their interests, joining any union remains a matter of free will, not coercion. Threats of a national shutdown because of union disputes are unacceptable and dangerous for a nation still recovering from economic shocks,” the statement read.
The association stressed that any disruption to refinery operations, including strike actions by tanker drivers or sabotage of refinery assets, could reverse the gains Nigeria has made in stabilising fuel supply under the current administration.
“The return of fuel scarcity would have dire economic consequences for Nigerians. We have witnessed relative stability in recent months, and that should not be jeopardized,” Nagwaza cautioned.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to revive the economy and argued that any disruption to fuel distribution would undermine those gains.
NANS also raised alarm over intelligence reports alleging a plot to attack Dangote Refinery’s newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks.
“Credible security reports suggest that certain oil cartels, long known for profiting from fuel subsidy scams and cross-border smuggling, are now scheming to burn or destroy Dangote’s CNG-powered trucks,” the statement alleged.
“This is a direct attack not just on a private entity, but on the future of Nigeria’s energy independence.”
The student body urged the National Security Adviser and relevant security agencies to urgently secure all critical infrastructure linked to fuel production and distribution.
Describing the Dangote Refinery as a symbol of innovation, employment, and skills development, NANS pledged its support for the project and vowed to resist any attempt to derail Nigeria’s march toward energy self-sufficiency.
“We will not sit idle while selfish interests seek to destroy what has already become a national asset,” the statement added.
“The refinery is not just a business — it is a knowledge hub and an opportunity center for thousands of Nigerian graduates.”
While reiterating its respect for NUPENG’s right to organise, NANS appealed to the union to embrace dialogue and avoid becoming “unwitting tools in the hands of economic saboteurs.”
