The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to support the smooth operations of the Dangote Refinery.
According to NANS, the refinery has the potential to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fuel importation and improve energy availability in the country.
The association believes that the refinery’s success is crucial for the country’s economic stability and future generations. “The completion of the Dangote Refinery represents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s economy. We will stand against any steps that may obstruct its operations because its performance affects the collective future of millions of Nigerians,” said Comrade Olushola Oladoja, President of NANS.
NANS appealed to groups such as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to work together to ensure that the refinery operates without disruption. The association emphasized the importance of collaboration across the sector to achieve this goal.
The Dangote Refinery has a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, which is more than enough to meet Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption of about 550,000 barrels. According to Oladoja, this means that the refinery can meet domestic needs and create a surplus for export. “For the first time, there is an opportunity to meet national demand with locally refined products,” he said.
The refinery has already created direct and indirect employment, and NANS believes that many more opportunities will follow as production expands. “This project has created jobs and offers prospects for more employment as it scales up,” Oladoja stated.
NANS has called on both public and private sector actors to protect the refinery’s operations and ensure that it contributes to long-term economic stability. “We urge all Nigerians to see this as a collective responsibility. This is about improving the country’s energy supply and securing a better future for generations to come,” Oladoja added.