Senator Ndume Urges Oil Sector to Support Dangote Amid Refinery Dispute

Senator Ali Ndume, a former Senate Leader, has called on key players in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector to support the Dangote Refinery rather than engaging in what he describes as a “poisonous media narrative” against it. This appeal follows recent tensions between the refinery management, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).

NUPENG had previously embarked on industrial action, shutting down depots over allegations that Dangote Refinery refused to allow its truck drivers to join the union, a right provided under the Trade Union Act. DAPPMAN, on the other hand, accused the refinery of stifling competition by selling products to international traders at cheaper rates compared to local marketers. Although the Department of State Services (DSS) intervened to broker a truce, tensions persist.

Ndume criticized stakeholders for demonizing Dangote, emphasizing that the refinery took significant risks to achieve what others failed to do despite past opportunities. He recalled that previous administrations granted licenses to 12 private operators in 2002 and nine more in 2007 to build refineries, but many failed to “scratch the surface” and instead focused on benefiting from crude oil allocations. He argued that it is wrong to accuse Dangote of monopolizing a deregulated industry, as no special concessions have been granted to any player.

The senator urged regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to intervene and prevent disputes from disrupting petroleum product distribution. He also called for constructive dialogue between NUPENG, PENGASSAN, and other stakeholders to balance labour rights with national development goals.

Ndume’s statement highlights the broader debate around Nigeria’s efforts to achieve energy independence and the challenges faced by private investors in transforming the sector. The Dangote Refinery, as Africa’s largest refining facility, plays a critical role in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, but its operations have faced resistance from established interests in the oil industry.