Nigeria Is Greater Than PENGASSAN — FG Reaffirms Support for Dangote Refinery

By Queen Amina Mohammed

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the success of the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, describing it as a strategic national asset whose smooth operation is vital to Nigeria’s economic growth and stability.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma Bagudu, emphasized that the $20 billion facility is a symbol of national pride and a cornerstone for industrial transformation.

Vice President Shettima lauded Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s vision and patriotism, noting that his decision to invest billions of dollars in Nigeria, rather than abroad, demonstrates uncommon faith in the nation’s future.

“Aliko Dangote is not just an individual; he is an institution and a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament. How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders judge us,” the Vice President said.

“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he would probably be worth between $70 and $80 billion today. But he chose to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to protect, promote, preserve, and safeguard the interests of this great Nigeria.”

Addressing the recent industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Shettima urged both labour unions and private sector players to act with patriotism and responsibility in managing industrial relations.

“This is not about holding the whole nation to ransom over a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us. I speak not as a partisan, but as a patriot,” he declared.

The Vice President reiterated that the government remains committed to fostering industrial harmony while safeguarding investments that strengthen Nigeria’s self-sufficiency, create jobs, and stabilize the national economy.

“Our collective duty is to protect what builds our nation, not what breaks it,” he concluded.

The Federal Government’s message underscores its recognition of the Dangote Refinery as a transformative project and a symbol of Nigeria’s economic resilience — one that must be sustained through unity, dialogue, and unwavering national commitment.

Amina Mohammed writes from Abuja