The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned that it will mobilize students across the country to block federal highways if what it describes as continued sabotage against local refineries, especially the Dangote Refinery, is not immediately addressed by the Federal Government.
The students’ body issued the warning during a national demonstration held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos, and Asaba on Wednesday, decrying what it called a coordinated effort by vested interests to undermine Nigeria’s move towards refining independence.
According to NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the growing pressure from certain trade unions to enforce membership on workers at private refineries violates constitutional rights and threatens investor confidence in the oil and gas sector. He argued that such actions amount to economic coercion designed to maintain Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, despite years of advocacy for domestic refining capacity.
The students’ union accused a network of local and international actors, including some oil companies, fuel importers, and labour unions of orchestrating an agenda that could cripple private refineries and return the country to the era of total import dependency. NANS also criticised what it described as the federal government’s silence, insisting that authorities must protect private investments vital to national development.
Call For Protection Of Local Refineries
During the protest, NANS drew parallels between the current challenges facing Nigeria’s refining industry and the collapse of the country’s once-thriving textile sector. The association noted that decades of sabotage, policy inconsistency, and weak enforcement had previously destroyed several strategic industries, warning that similar neglect could jeopardise Nigeria’s energy future.
The students outlined five major demands: priority allocation of crude oil to local refineries, an end to the undervaluation of crude sold to foreign buyers, a policy shift away from fuel importation, stronger protection for private sector investments, and a stop to harassment of refinery workers by trade unions.
They emphasized that Nigeria’s economic survival depends on developing its refining capacity, arguing that the Dangote Refinery and similar facilities are crucial to achieving energy self-sufficiency, stabilizing the naira, and creating employment opportunities for young people. NANS maintained that the success of local refineries represents more than an industrial milestone; it is a test of the country’s will to break free from decades of external dependence and internal inefficiency.
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In their address, student leaders reaffirmed that NANS would not allow private investors who have committed billions of dollars to the sector to be discouraged by what they termed as regulatory blackmail and union pressure. The association vowed to resist any attempt to derail the operations of local refineries, warning that student activists across all geopolitical zones were ready to embark on nationwide protests if the situation persists.
The group also expressed readiness to engage the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and security agencies to ensure that crude allocation, pricing, and policy frameworks favour the country’s industrial growth rather than foreign profiteering.
Students Threaten Nationwide Action
Beyond the refinery issue, NANS warned that continued neglect of key industrial sectors poses a broader threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty. The association said students would no longer remain silent while critical national assets and investments are undermined by what it described as vested interest groups seeking to profit from import dependency.
According to the students, the alleged sabotage of local refining efforts reflects a deeper pattern of policy sabotage that has hindered progress in agriculture, manufacturing, and energy. They demanded urgent government intervention to prevent another wave of industrial decline.
NANS leadership reaffirmed that while the association supports peaceful engagement and dialogue, it will not hesitate to shut down major highways and public institutions should authorities fail to protect the refinery sector from sabotage. The group said its planned demonstrations would be nationwide, drawing participation from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the six geopolitical zones.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have expressed solidarity with the students’ movement, calling for urgent government attention to the ongoing refinery disputes. Many observers see the Dangote Refinery as a symbol of Nigeria’s long-awaited breakthrough in local refining, and any disruption to its operations could have far-reaching economic consequences.
As tension builds, public expectations are rising for the Federal Government to intervene decisively, balancing labour rights with investment protection. Stakeholders are urging the presidency, the Ministry of Labour, and relevant regulatory bodies to resolve the refinery-related disputes swiftly and transparently to prevent a nationwide shutdown that could paralyse major transport routes.
For now, the students say they are prepared to sustain pressure through coordinated peaceful actions. Whether the government responds promptly may determine if the Dangote Refinery, and Nigeria’s broader refining ambition, survives what many describe as its first major political test.
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