Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to safeguard and respect the multibillion-dollar investments of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, describing such ventures as vital to Nigeria’s economic future and international reputation.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Vice President Shettima said the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, with its 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity, represents a critical national asset that must be protected to ensure sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
He emphasised that the treatment of major local investors like Dangote would influence how foreign investors perceive the country’s business environment.
“Aliko Dangote is not just an individual; he is an institution, a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament. How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,” Shettima said.
The vice president praised Dangote’s decision to invest massively in Nigeria rather than abroad, calling it an act of patriotism that deserves national protection.
He noted that while the businessman could have earned greater returns by investing in global technology companies, he chose to build within Nigeria, thereby creating jobs and supporting industrial growth.
“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might now be worth $70 to $80 billion. But he chose to invest in his country. We owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, and preserve the interests of this great Nigeria,” he said.
Shettima’s remarks came in the wake of recent industrial unrest at the Dangote Refinery following the alleged dismissal of about 800 unionised workers. The dispute, led by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), had prompted a nationwide strike that disrupted crude supply and refinery operations.
The industrial action was later suspended after the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The National Industrial Court had also issued interim orders restraining the union from continuing the strike and directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to maintain crude supply to the facility.
At the summit, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the refinery’s success, describing it as a strategic lifeline for Nigeria’s economy.
Shettima appealed to both labour unions and the organised private sector to exercise restraint and patriotism in resolving disputes, warning that frequent disruptions could discourage investment and undermine national progress.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” he said.
Commissioned in 2023, the Dangote Refinery remains Africa’s largest and one of the world’s biggest single-train refineries. It is expected to make Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and reduce dependence on imports while strengthening the country’s industrial base.
