Amanze Chinonye
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), describing them as “forces of retrogression” over what it termed attempts to destabilize the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA accused the unions of acting against Nigeria’s economic progress, insisting their agitation against the refinery was ill-motivated.
The association recalled that the same unions were silent during years of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the nation’s four state-owned refineries under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. HURIWA noted that despite billions of dollars spent by successive governments to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, none has produced fuel for decades.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelCiting verified data from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and reports of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, HURIWA said that between 2010 and 2020, over ₦11.35 trillion was expended on refinery rehabilitation, operations, and staff emoluments, with about ₦3.7 trillion reportedly paid as salaries and overheads for idle workers.
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The group described the situation as “institutionalized economic sabotage sustained through negligence, corruption, and complicity by unions meant to serve as watchdogs.”
HURIWA argued that union leaders should be held accountable for their roles in the decay of Nigeria’s refineries and urged authorities to conduct a forensic audit of all funds spent on refinery rehabilitation, including payments made to non-functional facilities.
Contrasting this with the performance of the privately owned Dangote Refinery, the rights group praised Alhaji Aliko Dangote for achieving what government-owned refineries could not, noting that the plant has already begun exporting refined products, including to the United States.
The association also commended the Federal Government for intervening in the standoff between labour unions and the refinery’s management, citing Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent description of the Dangote Refinery as a “national asset.”
While acknowledging workers’ constitutional right to unionize, HURIWA warned that such rights should not be exercised in ways that disrupt production or sabotage key national infrastructure. It maintained that stability and productivity should take precedence over union politics.
HURIWA further called on the National Assembly to recognize the Dangote Refinery as a strategic national asset deserving legislative protection, not through government ownership, but as a symbol of Nigerian industrial excellence and innovation.
“The Dangote Refinery represents what Nigeria’s public sector has failed to achieve for decades,” the group stated, emphasizing that the facility must be shielded from sabotage and any form of selfish agitation.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
