The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to end the importation of crude oil for the Dangote Refinery and prioritize selling local crude to the facility in naira rather than in foreign currency.
During a recent tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Funmi Sessi, Chairperson of the NLC Lagos State chapter, praised the scale and impact of the Dangote Group’s projects, describing them as key to economic development and relief for Nigerians.
Currently, the Dangote Refinery relies on imported crude around 60% from the US with 10 million barrels imported in July alone, according to Group President Aliko Dangote.
The NLC criticized this arrangement, saying it contradicts the government’s commitment to lower fuel prices. Sessi questioned.
“Why should a Nigerian refinery be importing crude when we have it in abundance?” She argued that selling crude to Dangote in naira would reduce operational costs and make fuel more affordable.
Following the removal of fuel subsidies, the NLC noted that petrol prices surged, but the entry of the Dangote Refinery helped stabilize the market.
“Dangote’s intervention brought some relief and led to a drop in fuel prices,” Sessi said, highlighting the refinery’s 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity and its ability to serve both Nigeria and West Africa.
She praised Dangote’s efforts, stating, “When government refineries failed, one man stepped up. Dangote didn’t just make promises he delivered.”
The union also commended the refinery’s production of Euro 5-compliant fuel, which meets international environmental standards by significantly reducing sulphur content. “This positions Nigeria as a serious player in the global market,” Sessi added.
The NLC concluded by urging the government to fully support the refinery and maximize its potential as a national asset.
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