Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
In a powerful display of public frustration, thousands of Nigerians under the aegis of the Partners for National Economic Progress PANEP brought significant parts of Kaduna city to a standstill on Monday. The large scale protest was aimed at compelling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive and forceful action against a powerful “oil cartel” accused of deliberately sabotaging the nation’s efforts to achieve self sufficiency in petroleum refining.
The demonstrators converged at the iconic Murtala Mohammed Square, from where they embarked on a massive march. The protest was visually striking, with participants holding placards bearing potent slogans such as “Support Local Refining,” “Crush Economic Saboteurs,” “Protect Dangote Refinery,” and “Stop Fuel Importation Cartel.” The air was filled with chants and solidarity songs, all echoing a singular demand, an end to the economic manipulation that has kept Nigeria dependent on imported fuel despite its vast crude oil reserves.
The leaders of the group, Comrade Igwe Ude Umanta and Comrade Dahiru Umar Maishanu, addressed the press, framing the protest as a patriotic struggle for Nigeria economic survival. They alleged that a deeply entrenched and powerful coalition of oil marketers, importers, and certain union leaders, in collusion with foreign interests, is actively working to undermine the successful operation of local refineries, with the Dangote Refinery being a primary target.
“This is not about Dangote alone it’s about Nigeria’s economic survival,” declared Comrade Ude Umanta. “Mr. President must rise to the occasion and stamp his feet. He must crush those sabotaging our march toward self reliance in refining. These economic terrorists profit from perpetual importation and artificial fuel scarcity at the direct expense of our national development and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.”
The protest was organized under the theme “National Unity Against Sabotage, Reclaiming Our Petroleum Sector for the People.”Comrade Ude-Umanta stated that the Kaduna rally was merely the beginning of a nationwide campaign designed to awaken the government and the public to the existential threat posed by these “saboteurs.”
He issued a grave warning about the long term consequences of inaction, stating, “If they succeed in killing the Dangote Refinery, no serious investor will ever have the confidence to bring significant capital into Nigeria again. This is a battle for the very soul of our economy.”
The protest highlights the intense public scrutiny and high expectations surrounding Nigeria’s journey towards fuel self-sufficiency. It also underscores the growing impatience among citizens with systemic corruption and powerful interests that are perceived to be profiting from the nation’s economic dysfunction, directly challenging President Tinubu’s administration to demonstrate its resolve in confronting these entrenched forces.