Daily lens Report
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria’s national interest outweighs the agenda of any trade union, urging labour groups to act with restraint amid the ongoing dispute involving the Dangote Refinery.
Speaking on Monday at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja, themed “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” Shettima stressed that the $20 billion Dangote Refinery is a strategic national asset that must be safeguarded.
The Vice President’s comments follow industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over issues with the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.
“Aliko Dangote is not just an individual—he is an institution and a beacon in Nigeria’s economic parliament,” Shettima said. “If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon or Google, he could be worth $70–80 billion today. But he chose to invest in Nigeria, and we owe it to future generations to protect and promote such patriotic investments.”
He urged both labour and the private sector to embrace dialogue and patriotism, warning against actions capable of crippling the nation’s economic momentum.
> “It’s not about holding the country to ransom over a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than all of us,” he stated.
Earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, highlighted that while Nigeria’s fiscal position is improving, foreign investment remains weak. He noted that the treatment of domestic investors like Dangote will shape global perceptions of Nigeria’s business climate.
“Policy predictability, investment protection, and transparent dispute-resolution mechanisms are essential to rebuild investor trust,” Yusuf added.
Despite fiscal gains, Yusuf warned that inflation, debt servicing, and low investor confidence continue to challenge economic recovery.
