Dangote
Abuja, A Northern interest group, Arewa 100% Focus, has urged the Federal Government and relevant regulatory bodies to protect the Dangote Refinery from undue interference, bureaucratic intimidation, and economic sabotage.
The group made the call in a statement by its President, Dr Abubakar Fakai, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Fakai described Arewa 100% Focus as a northern socio-political and economic advocacy movement committed to national unity, economic progress, and industrial growth in the country.
He condemned the escalating dispute between the Dangote Group and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), as well as the unwarranted antagonism directed at Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
According to him, this hostility towards a man whose vision, enterprise, and investments have catalysed Nigeria’s industrial transformation is unjust, unpatriotic, and detrimental to national interest.
Fakai said rather than persecution, such monumental contributions deserved recognition, respect, and national gratitude.
“We denounce all acts of sabotage, misinformation, and economic hostility targeted at the Dangote Refinery.
“These actions, whether overt or subtle, represent deliberate attempts to undermine a strategic national asset and discredit the spirit of private-sector-led development that Nigeria urgently needs for economic sovereignty and global competitiveness.
“We therefore urge the Federal Government of Nigeria and relevant regulatory bodies to decisively protect the Dangote Refinery from undue interference, bureaucratic intimidation, and economic sabotage.
“This refinery is not merely a private enterprise; it is a national economic lifeline and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s future industrial sustainability,” he said.
Fakai lauded the Dangote Group’s unrivaled role in addressing Nigeria’s downstream petroleum challenges and paving the path toward national self-sufficiency in the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to him, the Dangote Refinery stands as a symbol of national pride, representing African innovation, resilience, and capacity for industrial excellence.
He called on the media, civil society organisations, and opinion leaders to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and national responsibility in their reportage.
“The media must resist manipulative narratives designed to tarnish the image of the refinery or erode public confidence in one of Africa’s greatest industrial achievements,” he said.
He further reaffirmed the group’s unwavering commitment to continuous advocacy, monitoring, and public enlightenment on developments surrounding the refinery.
“We shall persist in ensuring that policy directions remain supportive of industrial transformation, job creation, and Nigeria’s march toward economic self-reliance and prosperity,” he added
