The Coalition of Yoruba Students and Youths Movement (COYSM) on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan against the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The protesters, who converged at the Iwo Road Roundabout along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway, accused the unions of pursuing “anti-masses policies” and sabotaging fuel supply in the country, particularly targeting the operations of the Dangote Refinery.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery,” “#StopSabotage,” “#DangoteRefineryIsANationalAsset,” “#EndPENGASSAN,” and “#EndDAPPMAN,” the demonstrators marched through major routes in Ibadan, chanting solidarity songs.
COYSM alleged that the actions of the unions were detrimental to Nigeria’s economic growth and harmful to citizens’ welfare. The group called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to ensure that the Dangote Refinery operates without obstruction.
Speaking during the protest, the National President of the National Association of Oyo State Students (NAOSS), Olalere Adetunji, urged President Bola Tinubu and relevant agencies to act swiftly to protect the refinery and Nigeria’s broader economic interests.
“We want to use this moment to appeal to the Federal Government to protect the refinery and ensure that the actions of labour unions and marketers do not derail Nigeria’s move toward fuel self-sufficiency,” Adetunji said.
He described Aliko Dangote as a patriot whose investments were creating jobs and supporting the nation’s economy, accusing some “unscrupulous elements” of frustrating the refinery’s operations by continuing to import fuel, including adulterated products.
Security operatives, including the police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were deployed to maintain order during the protest.
The group also urged the Federal Government to safeguard local investments in the energy sector, stressing that the success of the Dangote Refinery is critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
