Kaduna Residents Protest To Defend Dangote Refinery

Kaduna city came to a standstill as thousands of residents marched in support of the Dangote refinery, accusing a powerful oil cartel of trying to sabotage Nigeria’s push for self-sufficiency in fuel production.

The protest, organised by Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP), moved through major streets, drawing crowds chanting and carrying placards demanding protection for local refineries.

The demonstration took place on Monday, beginning at Murtala Mohammed Square and extending through Alkali Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Muhammadu Buhari Way. The movement aimed to pressure the government to shield the refinery from what organisers described as deliberate attempts to keep the country reliant on imported fuel.

Protest leaders said the rally was part of a nationwide campaign to expose those benefiting from fuel importation at the expense of national growth. They linked the cartel to the collapse of Nigeria’s public refineries and the textile industry, warning that the same forces now threaten the Dangote refinery.

The Kaduna rally followed earlier demonstrations in Abuja and was themed “National unity against sabotage.” Organisers described it as a movement to reclaim control of Nigeria’s petroleum sector for its citizens. They insisted that protecting the refinery was key to reviving the economy, creating jobs, and restoring investor trust.

Protesters accused certain union leaders and importers of using strikes and artificial shortages to undermine the refinery’s operations. They urged the Federal Government to act decisively against anyone obstructing local fuel production, calling such actions economic sabotage.

The group also appealed to President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as Minister of Petroleum Resources, to ensure that local refineries receive crude oil at the same rate as foreign buyers. They argued that fair pricing would sustain operations and make refined products more affordable for Nigerians.

Participants demanded that the government restrict or heavily tax fuel imports to protect homegrown industries. They said keeping Nigeria dependent on foreign refineries would destroy local investment and worsen economic hardship.

The rally ended with strong calls for unity and government action. Organisers vowed to continue mobilising across the country until local refining becomes the foundation of Nigeria’s energy policy. They maintained that defending the Dangote refinery was not just about one company, but about securing Nigeria’s economic future.