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Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to exercise caution in its dealings with the Dangote Refinery, warning that their actions could shape the perception foreign investors have of Nigeria’s business environment.
This comes in the wake of a recent standoff between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Group following the reported dismissal of 800 Nigerian workers from the refinery and their replacement with Indian expatriates. The union demanded that the company respect Nigerian labour laws and allow its members to unionize — a position strongly opposed by the Dangote Group. The dispute eventually escalated into industrial action.
Speaking at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja on Monday, Vice President Shettima emphasized the importance of protecting key national assets and economic players. He described Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, as “not just an individual but an institution,” and urged Nigerians to recognize the strategic value of the Dangote Refinery to the nation’s economy.
“Aliko Dangote is not an individual. He is a leading light in Nigeria’s economic firmament, and how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,” Shettima said.
He highlighted the magnitude of Dangote’s commitment to Nigeria, noting that the billionaire could have invested his $10 billion in global tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google and reaped far greater financial rewards. Instead, he chose to invest in Nigeria — a decision Shettima said must be respected and supported.
“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he would probably be worth $78 billion today. But he chose to invest in this country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously promote, protect, preserve, and project the interest of this great Nigerian,” he added.
Shettima’s remarks serve as a call for balance between labor rights and national economic priorities, especially when the country’s global investment reputation is at stake.
