Dangote Petroleum Refinery
Niger Delta Youth Council of Nigeria (NDYCN) has thrown its weight behind the Dangote Refinery in the ongoing standoff involving the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
In a press statement signed by the National President of NDYCN, Comrade Ufuoma Victor Erharhine, described the multi-billion-dollar facility as “one of the most transformative investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
He stressed that the refinery represents a turning point in the country’s economic future and must not be undermined by vested interests.
According to him, the project has already created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, especially for youths in the Niger Delta, while promising to save Nigeria billions of dollars in foreign exchange by reducing fuel importation.
“Any attempt to undermine the Dangote Refinery is an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s economic independence. The youths of the Niger Delta will not fold their arms and watch,” Erharhine declared.
He noted that the Niger Delta, which has for decades borne the brunt of oil exploration with little developmental return, views the refinery as a beacon of hope for energy availability, industrialization, and regional development.
While recognizing the right of unions to protect the interest of their members, NDYCN cautioned NUPENG and DAPPMAN against actions that could destabilize the refinery or frustrate its operations.
“We call on NUPENG and DAPPMAN to embrace dialogue, patriotism, and responsibility. The time has come to put Nigeria first,” the NDYCN President said.
The group also called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the dispute and provide policy protection for the refinery.
They urged authorities to safeguard the project from sabotage, anti-competitive practices, or monopoly tendencies.
Erharhine emphasized that the refinery is not just a private business venture but a strategic national asset whose success is tied to Nigeria’s economic stability and the future of oil-bearing communities.
Concluding, he reiterated NDYCN’s resolve to mobilize Niger Delta youths in defense of the refinery if necessary, describing it as “a symbol of hope, a Nigerian initiative that must be nurtured, not strangled.”
