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Ukorebi Esien | October 7, 2025
ABUJA – A group of eminent Nigerians, including Obong-Anwan Barbara Etim James, Atedo Peterside (CON), Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), has called for calm and dialogue over the recent industrial dispute involving the Dangote Refinery.
In a joint statement released in Abuja on Monday, the group urged stakeholders to act with restraint and national interest, describing the refinery as a vital symbol of local investment and industrial growth.
"The Dangote Refinery is more than a private venture, it represents what bold domestic investment can achieve after decades of public-sector failure. Protecting such ventures while ensuring fair labour practices is vital to our shared future," the group said.
The statement, also endorsed by Arunma Oteh, Aisha Yesufu, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, and Opeyemi Adamolekun, was signed by Osita Chidoka, OFR, and Obong-Anwan Barbara Etim James.
The group outlined three guiding principles for Nigeria's economic progress: respect for workers' rights, protection of productive enterprises, and a commitment to transparency and social responsibility by major investors.
They cautioned that recurring disruptions around strategic national assets could weaken investor confidence and derail economic recovery efforts. Concerns about monopoly or market dominance, they added, should be handled through legal institutions such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) rather than industrial actions that harm ordinary Nigerians.
"This crisis is not about one refinery or one company. It is about the direction of our economy, whether we continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity," the group stated.
They commended the Federal Government, organised labour, and the management of Dangote Refinery for embracing dialogue to resolve the dispute and urged that this cooperative approach become a model for future industrial relations in Nigeria.
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