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Dangote Refinery: CSOs kick against DAPPMAN, Labour Unions’ Strike Threat

Published

1 year ago

September 30, 2025

Cyril Ogar

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF), National Coalition for Market Men, Women and Artisans (NACOMWA), and Petroleum Consumers Protection Alliance (PCPA) have expressed bitterness with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), as well as strike threats by PENGASSAN, TUC, and NUPENG, saying it represent nothing short of a direct assault on the Nigerian people.

The coalition, in a press statement during their rally to the Presidential Villa, National Assembly and NMDPRA in Abuja on Tuesday, signed by the President, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COCSON), Comrade Ibrahim Suleiman; National Chairman, Nigerian Interfaith Forum (NIF), Rev. Dr. Mathew Ayodele; National President, National Coalition for Market Men, Women & Artisans (NACOMWA), Comrade Boma Agbede, and Chairman, Petroleum Consumers Protection Alliance (PCPA), Barr. Yusuf Danladi, called on President Bola Tinubu to hold leaders of these unions responsible if there is a breakdown of law and order in this country and they should be immediately arrested for disobedience to court order.

The coalition said: “For decades, Nigerians have been held hostage by a cartel that thrives on import dependency, round-tripping, subsidy scams, and artificial scarcity. DAPPMAN, an organisation that should be a partner in progress, has chosen instead to undermine the Dangote Refinery and other indigenous refining initiatives because they fear competition, transparency, and efficiency.

“DAPPMAN’s opposition to Dangote Refinery’s emergence as a major force in local refining is not about policy, not about patriotism—it is about preserving their stranglehold over Nigerians. Their agenda is to keep fuel importation alive, so they can continue profiteering at the expense of ordinary citizens who are already battered by poverty, unemployment, and inflation.

“We are equally disturbed by reports that PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and the TUC are planning to embark on an industrial strike to back DAPPMAN’s destructive agenda. At a time when Nigerians are groaning under the weight of economic hardship—when families are choosing between food and school fees, when transportation costs already swallow meagre salaries—these labour unions want to compound the suffering by shutting down oil and gas operations.

“Let us be clear: this is not a strike for workers. It is a strike for cartels. This is not a fight for fairness. It is a fight against Nigeria’s independence in refining. History will not forgive any union that aligns with saboteurs against the very people they claim to represent.”

The coalition said they welcome with relief the ruling of the Federal High Court which barred PENGASSAN from stopping gas supply to Dangote Refinery, saying the judgment validates their position that the strike threats were not in the interest of workers or Nigerians, but a calculated move to sabotage Nigeria’s refining revolution.

They said the judiciary has spoken clearly that no union or cartel has the right to hold 200 million Nigerians hostage in pursuit of selfish interests, and called on security agencies to enforce this ruling decisively and ensure that no group undermines the court’s order.

They further stated that, “ASUU is the union of university lecturers in Nigeria, but it does not go after Covenant, Baze, Babcock, JABU, or Crescent universities to force their lecturers into membership. NURTW is the union of road transport workers, yet it does not force the drivers of God is Good, GUO, Ekeson, or Chisco into its ranks.

“NUT is the union of teachers in primary and secondary schools, yet it does not march into Chrisland, Grange, British International School, or Charterhouse to compel teachers to join.

“So why should Dangote Refinery, a private enterprise built with private sweat and risk, solving our collective refining crisis—be forced into the grip of PENGASSAN or any union that can shut it down at will?

“If any worker at Dangote Refinery is unhappy and feels the need for union protection, let them seek employment elsewhere or test their grievances in court. Nigerians cannot allow a situation where, after decades of suffering from fuel imports, one man builds a world-class refinery, and a union claims the power to cripple it at will.”

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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