Dangote Refinery Solving Our Energy Challenge, Needs No Distraction – CSOs

Two groups, under the auspices of Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA), and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), have accused fifth columnists of trying to distract the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company from concentrating on the noble job of solving Nigeria’s energy crisis.

Both groups, led by Ikechukwu Chukwunyere and Husseini Abubakar for BAVCCA and COCSON, respectively, accused saboteurs of wanting to drag the country back to the days of artificial scarcity, thereby plunging the masses into poverty.

At a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, they sounded a note of warning to what they described as a small but powerful group of economic saboteurs who they alleged were hell-bent on dragging Nigeria back into the dark ages of fuel importation, artificial scarcity, and perpetual poverty.

According to the groups, the undeniable reality is that Nigeria has achieved full energy independence as of today, 18th November, 2025, the Dangote Refinery is loading and dispatching more than 104 million litres of refined petroleum products daily, over 57 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Jet fuel 20 million litres and 27 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) totaling 104 million litres of petroleum products. This volume exceeds Nigeria’s total national daily consumption of approximately 70–75 million litres.

They noted that Nigeria has more than enough locally refined fuel for every car, truck, generator, and factory in Nigeria. Hence, fuel importation is no longer a necessity; it is now a choice. And that choice is being made only by those who profit from our collective suffering.

They stated, “We must address and debunk recent misleading claims, such as those from Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, suggesting that the refinery’s output meets only about 40% of national needs. This is simply not true. As of November 2025, the Dangote Refinery’s production is at 100% or more of Nigeria’s requirements, rendering such assertions outdated and inaccurate.

“We urge all parties, including labor unions, to align with facts and support this achievement rather than undermine it for narrow agendas”.

Commenting on the suspension of 15% import duty by the Federal Government, both groups described it as sabotage and not a relief, as erroneously viewed.

“The suspicious suspension of the 15% import duty, a direct attack on local refineries, just when Nigerians should be enjoying the fruits of self-sufficiency, we woke up to the shocking news that the federal government has suspended the recently imposed 15% import duty on petroleum products until the first quarter of 2026. This is not policy, this is sabotage disguised as relief.

“This suspension effectively makes imported fuel cheaper than locally refined fuel, thereby creating an artificial price advantage for importers and rendering modular and large-scale local refineries uncompetitive”.

Chukwunyere insisted that President Bola Tinubu has to intervene by ordering an outright ban on Fuel importation, not just the suspension of the 15% import duty.

Both groups also insisted that only locally refined products be sold in Nigeria as long as local production exceeds demand, while urging the setting up of a special task force to investigate and prosecute economic saboteurs in the downstream sector.