The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has passed a vote of confidence in the Dangote Refinery, describing recent attempts by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to discredit the refinery as a disservice to the nation’s economy. The students’ declaration came amid allegations that the NNPCL attempted to bribe NANS leadership with $250,000 to dissuade them from supporting the refinery in its ongoing dispute with the NNPCL.
During a tour of the Dangote Refinery facility in Lagos, NANS leaders, including Senate President Akinteye Babatunde Afiz, expressed their admiration for the project, calling it a monumental achievement for Nigeria. Afiz stated that the refinery, which is the world’s largest single-train refinery, has the potential to end fuel importation, conserve foreign exchange, and boost the economy.
Afiz emphasized that Nigerian students stand firmly behind the Dangote Refinery, urging the government to direct all marketers to patronize the facility to alleviate the current fuel scarcity. He criticized the NNPCL for failing to revive the country’s four moribund refineries while attempting to undermine a privately-owned refinery that is operational.
The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, thanked the students for their support and revealed that President Bola Tinubu had intervened to ensure the refinery could purchase crude oil in naira, a move he described as beneficial for Nigeria. Edwin highlighted the refinery’s capacity to meet 43% of Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand while exporting the remainder to generate foreign exchange.
Edwin expressed frustration over efforts to sabotage the refinery, noting that Dangote had rejected offers from Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi to build the refinery abroad, choosing instead to invest in Nigeria. He emphasized that the refinery aligns with Dangote’s business strategy of adding value to Nigeria’s economy through job creation and local production.
The students’ visit and endorsement of the Dangote Refinery underscore the facility’s significance to Nigeria’s economic development and the need to protect it from sabotage. NANS pledged to continue supporting the refinery, urging the government to prioritize its success for the benefit of all Nigerians.
