It was a loud but peaceful scene on the streets of Ibadan on Tuesday, as students came out in large numbers to rally behind the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria’s biggest industrial investment.
The protest, which took place at the Iwo Road Roundabout near the Ibadan-Lagos expressway, was led by members of the National Association of Oduduwa Students, the Coalition of Yoruba Students, and the Yoruba Movement. Their message was clear: stop sabotaging the refinery.
Wearing matching shirts that read “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery,” the protesters carried signs and chanted slogans aimed at oil unions and marketers they accuse of trying to frustrate the refinery’s operations. Some of the placards read:
- “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery”
- “#StopSabotage”
- “#EndPENGASSAN”
- “#DangoteRefineryIsANationalAsset”
- “#StopSabotagingFuelInNigeria”
The students say this is not just about Dangote, but about Nigeria’s path to energy independence. According to them, the ongoing tensions between the refinery and groups like PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPPMAN are slowing down progress and threatening the country’s dream of ending fuel importation.
President of the National Association of Oduduwa Students, Olalere Adetunji, didn’t mince words. He called on President Bola Tinubu and other relevant authorities to urgently step in and ensure the refinery is protected.
“This protest is a wake-up call,” Adetunji said. “The Dangote Refinery is not just a private investment, it’s a national asset. We can’t allow union politics or hidden interests to derail what could finally make Nigeria self-sufficient in fuel production.”
As the protest continued, security forces including the police and the Federal Road Safety Corps were on standby to maintain order. So far, the demonstration has remained calm and organized.
The showdown between the refinery and union bodies is still unfolding, but for now, these students are making their voices heard loud and clear — and they’re standing firmly behind the refinery.
#IbadanProtest #DangoteRefinery #FuelCrisis #StudentProtest #OyoState #EndPENGASSAN #NUPENG #DAPPMAN #EnergyIndependence #SupportDangote #NigeriaNews
