CSOs Urge PENGASSAN to Build Its Own Refinery, Stop Attacking Dangote

A coalition of 45 civil society organisations (CSOs) has faulted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its ongoing clash with Dangote Refinery, urging the union to focus on building its own refinery rather than disrupting private investments.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the coalition which includes the Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) and the Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI) expressed strong support for Dangote Refinery in its face-off with organised labour.

Jointly signed by Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe Ude-Umanta, the coalition described PENGASSAN’s actions as meddlesome, arguing that if the union truly wanted to safeguard workers’ interests, it should invest in establishing its own refineries.

The group also criticised PENGASSAN for failing to revive state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, which have been moribund for years and are largely responsible for recurring fuel shortages in the country.

“How can we allow the same people who created fuel queues in the past for selfish gain to now attempt to frustrate a $20 billion investment that has placed Nigeria on the global map of oil exporters?” the coalition queried.

They further accused PENGASSAN of being “an enemy of Nigeria,” claiming that the union thrived on fuel scarcity in the past and is now seeking to destabilise Dangote Refinery to return the country to those dark days.

The CSOs called on Nigerians to support Dangote Refinery, stressing that the investment represents a turning point for the nation’s energy sector and should not be undermined by vested interests.