Pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to end Nigeria’s long dependence on imported petroleum products as the Yoruba Council Worldwide and a coalition of civil society groups rallied behind Dangote Refinery, accusing powerful oil interests of economic sabotage.
In a bold open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Council — supported by the Nigeria Coalition Group (NCG) and allied organizations — alleged that a network of union leaders, oil cabals, and regulatory insiders are deliberately undermining the nation’s drive for energy independence.
The group described the standoff between Dangote Refinery and oil unions including PENGASSAN, NUPENG, IPMAN, and DAPPMAN as “a war between Nigeria’s progress and vested interests.”
“This refinery represents the hope of millions of Nigerians,” declared Aare Oladotun Hassan, President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide. “Anyone attempting to cripple it is not just attacking Dangote — they’re sabotaging the future of Nigeria.”
The Council urged President Tinubu to suspend all petroleum import licences, alleging that certain union leaders and oil marketers are colluding with officials of NNPCL and NMDPRA to frustrate the operations of the $20 billion refinery — Africa’s largest.
It also called for a forensic investigation into the finances and activities of the unions, accusing their leadership of manipulating supply chains to maintain Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.
The statement proposed a Crude Exploration Nationalisation Policy Synergy Scheme, aimed at guaranteeing full crude supply to local refineries and supporting Dangote’s plan to raise production from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels, potentially creating over 65,000 new jobs.
It further demanded stronger protectionist policies — including raising import tariffs from 15% to 200% or enforcing a complete ban on imported fuel — to safeguard indigenous investments in the energy sector.
The Council condemned recent union directives to halt crude and gas supplies to Dangote Refinery, describing them as acts of “economic terrorism” that have cost the nation an estimated ₦30 billion.
In contrast, the group praised Dangote Group’s ₦2 trillion investment in 10,000 new tanker trucks for nationwide fuel distribution — calling it “a patriotic move that underscores confidence in Nigeria’s economy.”
The statement also revealed that Dangote Refinery had survived more than 20 sabotage attempts, allegedly involving corrupt insiders and external collaborators. It urged security agencies — including the DSS, EFCC, NSA, NIA, and NFIU — to investigate and prosecute all actors behind such attacks.
As part of its advocacy push, the Council declared Wednesday, November 12, 2025, a National Day of Solidarity and Thank You Rally in Lagos to express support for Dangote Refinery and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja
“This movement is beyond politics,” Hassan said. “It’s about freeing Nigeria from the grip of fuel importation and giving our people back their economic power.”
As tensions rise within the oil sector, the Yoruba Council’s stance appears to be reshaping the national conversation — from labour disputes to a broader demand for economic sovereignty, energy reform, and patriotic accountability.