The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday staged simultaneous protest actions in Abuja, Asaba and Lagos warning against growing conspiracy to sabotage the revitalisation of petroleum industry.
Addressing journalists at the Abuja rally, NANS President, Oladoja Olusola, said the demonstrations were a national warning action aimed at alerting the Federal Government and key industry stakeholders to what they called deliberate attempts to frustrate local refining initiatives.
“The Nigerian students and youth will no longer sit idly while some people undermine the survival of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“Any further attempt to sabotage or impose anti-investment policies on private refineries will lead to total occupation of federal highways across all 36 states and the FCT,” he said.
He condemned decades of mismanagement and “systematic sabotage” that have crippled national refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri, turning Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers into an importer of refined petroleum products.
“This decay has forced us into dependency, exporting crude at giveaway prices and importing refined products at cut-throat costs.
” He warned that continued sabotage could replicate the collapse of the textile industry, once the country’s second-largest employer.
Olusola also alleged that certain foreign and local interests, including international oil companies and product traders, were colluding with unions and regulatory bodies to frustrate private refinery operations.
He cited the recent controversy involving the alleged attempt by PENGASSAN to impose compulsory membership on Dangote Refinery workers.
“This is coercion and a violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees freedom of association.
“Workers in private refineries have the right to choose their representation or remain non-unionided,” he said.
He urged the federal government to prioritise crude oil supply to Nigerian refineries including private operators such as Dangote and the upcoming BUA refinery.
He called for an end to crude oil devaluation for foreign refineries and better incentives for local processors while also De-prioritisation of petroleum product imports in favour of locally refined products.
Olusola urged for the protection of private investment and enforcement of constitutional freedom of association and also demand an end to union harassment and industrial blackmail against private investors in the sector.
He reaffirmed the students’ commitment to defending national economic interests, stating that the protection and success of local refineries were essential to Nigeria’s industrial revival and energy security.
