On Monday, a group of young activists affiliated with Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP) took to the streets of Kaduna, rallying against what they described as deliberate efforts by influential oil cartels to undermine Nigeria’s economic revival by obstructing indigenous refining initiatives.
Marching through key thoroughfares, the demonstrators voiced their demands with chants and banners emblazoned with messages like “Defend Local Refining,” “Dismantle Fuel Import Cartels,” and “Back Dangote Refinery.”
The procession gathered initially at the well-known Murtala Mohammed Square before advancing along Alkali Road, Ali Akilu Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Muhammadu Buhari Way, all the while singing songs of unity in support of domestic refining projects.
Leading the demonstration, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta and Comrade Dahirui Umar Maishanu explained that the Kaduna event was part of a broader nationwide movement aimed at unveiling and combating economic saboteurs intent on keeping Nigeria reliant on imported petroleum products.
“Our fight targets the cartel responsible for dismantling public refineries, decimating the textile sector, and now attempting to choke the Dangote Refinery,” Ude-Umanta asserted. “We refuse to let them succeed. The era of holding Nigeria hostage is over.”
He noted that the campaign originated in Abuja on October 2, framing it as a “national emancipation mission” to rescue the economy from ruthless cartels thriving on the country’s decline.
The Kaduna demonstration held symbolic weight, he added, recalling how foreign interests, aided by local collaborators, destroyed the city’s once-thriving textile industry.
“Kaduna was once a vibrant textile center before similar sabotage tactics brought it down,” he reflected. “Now, they aim to replicate this destruction in our oil sector by blocking local refining efforts. We will stand firm against them.”
Under the banner “National Unity Against Sabotage: Reclaiming Our Petroleum Sector for the People,” the protest called for immediate government intervention to shield the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery from ongoing “systematic assaults” by factions within the fuel import cartel.
Ude-Umanta condemned recent moves by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), labeling their actions as “economic terrorism” and accusing the union of colluding with the cartel to disrupt refinery operations.
“PENGASSAN’s conduct was not genuine unionism but outright sabotage,” he stated. “The Federal Government should have detained their leaders to set a precedent. We cannot permit individuals to exploit labor unions as a cover for economic crimes.”
PANEP appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action by ensuring that local refineries like Dangote’s receive crude oil at prices comparable to those offered to foreign refiners. “This is crucial for the refinery’s sustainability and to boost investor confidence,” the group emphasized.
The protesters stressed that the period of unchecked fuel importation must end, urging the government to either halt imports or impose substantial tariffs to safeguard domestic industries. “Nations that implement tariffs are not foolish; they are protecting their economies,” Ude-Umanta remarked.
Maishanu added that the cartel’s objective is to maintain a monopoly over fuel imports. “How can importers compete with producers?” he questioned. “They fear local refining because it threatens to expose their deceit and dismantle their grip on pricing.”
The group also accused the cartel of obstructing the distribution of locally produced Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (Jet A1), which are offered at lower prices, thereby artificially inflating costs. “They are punishing Nigerians to safeguard their greed,” he said.
The protesters praised Dangote Refinery for its “early achievements” in lowering the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), noting that Nigerians are already experiencing relief from the local refining revolution.
“This movement represents economic salvation,” Maishanu concluded. “If we allow the destruction of Dangote Refinery, no investor will dare to inject capital into this country again. Protecting this refinery is protecting our future.”
They urged President Tinubu to “crush every adversary of Nigeria’s economic advancement.”