By Adeyinka Adeniran
Thousands of students and youths from the Southwest region under the aegis of Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youth Movement (COYSYM) on Tuesday staged a massive protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to tackle what they described as unpatriotic attacks and orchestrated blackmail against Dangote Refinery.
The students who commended President Bola Tinubu for the courage in the removal of fuel subsidy fingered trade unions in the oul and gas sector including Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) as been behind the attack on the nation’s private Refinery.
The group also said it has uncovered, through credible information, that PENGASSAN, NUPENG and DAPPMAN in collaboration with certain international oil companies and traders are deliberately instigating disruptions to frustrate Dangote Refinery.
It added that there are multiple attempts to obstruct its operations and undermine its credibility, noting that the acts of economic sabotage must not be tolerated.
COYSYM is a united front of all Yoruba Indigenous Youth and Student Organisations across Nigeria, including the National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS), Yoruba Council Worldwide, and the Coalition of Osun State Youth and Students Association (COSSYA), among others.
The protesters dressed in customised t-shirt and face cap defiled the early morning rains to assemble at the Iwo Road underbridge carried banners, placards and sang solidarity songs to enlighten members of the public on the threat against the benefit of the refinery in transforming the oil and gas sector.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards reads: “Government support Dangote Refinery Now. Support Dangote, Save Nigerians. Stop Sabotage. Support Dangote. Dangiye Refinery is Nigeria’s Pride”, “PENGASSAN: Nigeria’s alpha and omega, stop holding Nigeria hostage. Free Dangote!”, “Support Dangote, nor caryel! Our oil, our right, support Dangote”.
Others read: “Don’t kill Dangote Refinery”, “Dangote Refinery is pride of Nigeria”, “We kick agaisnt the anti-masses policies of PENGASSAN, DAPPMAN and NUPENG. Stop sabotaging fuel supply in Nigeria. Let the masses breath”, “PENGASSAN, DAPPMAN and NUPENG: Stop causing problem in the oil sector in Nigeria”, among others.
The protest which led to heavy traffic jam at the Iwo Road end of the Ibadan-Ife Expressway saw many commuters stranded for minutes.
Traffic officers including officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police, among others had a hectic time controlling traffic as commuters trying to use the road inward into the capital city suffered mild delays.
Addressing the massive crowd, the National President, Comrade Benedict Adetunji urged the Federal Government to prioritize the allocation of crude oil to all Nigerian-owned refineries at fair and competitive rates.
He said the group embarked on the protest rally out of deep sense of patriotism and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability.
He also called for the stoppage of crude to foreign refineries at cheaper prices than to local refineries as well as an end for the importation of petroleum products and support domestic refining.
Reading the position paper while addreasing the crowd, Comrade Adetunji said, “We bring you warm and revolutionary greetings from the Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youth Movement (COYSYM) a united front of all Yoruba Indigenous Youth and Student Organisations across Nigeria, including the National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS), Yoruba Council Worldwide, and the Coalition of Osun State Youth and Students Association (COSSYA), among others.
“We are compelled by the negative and anti-national activities of PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN to present this position paper today, 7th October 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the political headquarters of the Southwest, out of our deep sense of patriotism and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability.
“First and foremost, we commend Your Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for your bold and visionary leadership, particularly your courage in the removal of fuel subsidy, which has brought remarkable improvement to fuel supply and market stability across the nation. Your steadfast drive for industrialisation and economic recovery remains commendable.
“However, we express our deep concern over the recent unpatriotic attacks and orchestrated blackmail by PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN against the Dangote Refinery, a world-class facility that stands as the pride of Nigeria and the entire African continent. This refinery, situated within our Yoruba region, represents a symbol of industrial hope, self-reliance, and national rebirth. It deserves support and protection, not sabotage.
“Your Excellency, the survival and success of Dangote Refinery is crucial to achieving your administration’s vision of making Nigeria a production-driven economy rather than one dependent on importation. No nation grows by importing what it can produce. The only path to true economic revival lies in increasing our export capacity and reducing unnecessary importation.
“For decades, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN have crippled Nigeria’s oil sector through incessant strikes, policy manipulations, and industrial sabotage. Their leadership has placed personal and corporate interests above national progress. These unions, often aligned with import cartels, have benefited from fuel importation at the expense of local refining. Their existence, in its current form, has done more harm than good to Nigeria’s economy.
“As the sons and daughters of the Yoruba Nation, and as the hosts of the Dangote Refinery, we call on Your Excellency, our leader and father, to intervene decisively. Let us not allow these saboteurs to destroy what has taken decades and billions of naira to build. Dangote Refinery is not just a private investment, it is a national asset capable of providing employment, stabilizing fuel supply, and saving billions in foreign exchange.”
The group “urge the Federal Government to: Prioritize the allocation of crude oil to all Nigerian-owned refineries at fair and competitive rates.
“Stop the sale of crude to foreign refineries at cheaper prices than to our local refineries.
“End the importation of petroleum products and support domestic refining.
“A historical lesson must guide us: in the past, Nigeria’s textile industry was the second-largest employer after the Federal Government, but reckless importation policies led to its total collapse. Even in advanced economies like the United States, President Donald Trump introduced high import tariffs to protect domestic industries and jobs. Nigeria must do the same to protect its strategic sectors.
“We have also uncovered, through credible information, that PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN in collaboration with certain international oil companies and traders such as Trafigura, Vitol, Glencore, BP, and Shell are deliberately instigating disruptions to frustrate Dangote Refinery. Reports indicate multiple attempts to obstruct its operations and undermine its credibility. These are acts of economic sabotage that must not be tolerated.
“Your Excellency, Alhaji Aliko Dangote must not be made to regret his patriotic investment in Nigeria. Rather, he deserves national protection and encouragement. His contributions toward industrialisation, employment generation, and economic diversification embody your Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As Yoruba students and youth, known for our love, unity, and hospitality, we appeal passionately to Your Excellency and all Yoruba leaders, Royal Father’s, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to rise in defence of Dangote Refinery and reject all agents of economic regression.
“Nigeria will only rise when Nigerians believe in and support Nigeria. No foreign power will build this nation for us. The time has come to reward patriotism and punish sabotage. We remain committed to a better, stronger, and self-sufficient Nigeria. Nigeria.”
