Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged PENGASSAN to resolve its dispute with the Dangote Refinery peacefully.
He warned that the standoff could affect investor confidence and praised Dangote’s $10bn investment in Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to handle its ongoing dispute with the Dangote Refinery with discretion, warning that the outcome could shape how international investors view Nigeria’s business environment.
Tensions escalated last week after reports emerged that the refinery dismissed about 800 Nigerian employees, allegedly replacing them with Indian expatriates. The development prompted PENGASSAN to accuse the company of violating labour laws and to demand that its members be allowed to unionize a stance the Dangote Group rejected, resulting in an industrial standoff.
Speaking on Monday at the opening session of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima called for restraint and urged Nigerians to support major local investors whose contributions drive the country’s industrial growth. He described billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote as a national economic pillar whose investments deserve protection.
According to the Vice President, Dangote represents more than a private businessman, noting that his $10 billion investment in Nigeria reflects deep confidence in the country’s potential. Shettima stressed that if such funds had been channeled into international tech giants, the investor’s net worth would have multiplied substantially, yet he chose to build within Nigeria.
He urged citizens and labour bodies to prioritize national interest, saying the refinery should be seen as a critical economic project that deserves collective support and stability.
