Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged restraint, patriotism, and dialogue in resolving the ongoing industrial dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Speaking at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja on Monday, Shettima emphasized that neither the country nor any organisation should undermine a firm like Dangote Refinery over a union disagreement that can be resolved through negotiation.
“Aliko Dangote is not an individual. This is an institution. We must be united in protecting Nigeria’s economic power,” the Vice President said. He highlighted that Dangote’s $10 billion investment in Nigeria, instead of global tech companies, should be treated as a generational asset.
Shettima called on both labour and management to approach the dispute with caution and a sense of national duty, stressing that industrial disagreements should not compromise national economic progress. “We owe it a duty to generously protect, promote, and preserve this refinery,” he added. “You don’t prove a point by threatening the survival of an institution that serves national interest.”
The Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering a business environment that supports industrial harmony, investment confidence, and inclusive growth. He noted that the administration is actively shaping market conditions to attract private capital and enhance productivity.
Shettima concluded by stressing unity and shared responsibility, describing Nigeria as “a great country in search of solutions to its challenges,” and urging all stakeholders to prioritize dialogue over confrontation to safeguard key economic assets.