By Fatima Mukhtar
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to respect and protect the business interests of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, saying the success of such investments will determine the stability of the nation’s economic future.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as “not just an individual but an institution,” whose enterprises, especially the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex represent a vital pillar of Nigeria’s industrial development.
“Aliko Dangote is not an individual, he is an institution. How we treat our national investors will define how others view Nigeria,” Shettima said, urging labour unions and corporate players to “exercise caution, patriotism, and restraint” in their engagements with strategic investors.
The Vice-President’s appeal comes amid an ongoing dispute involving the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Refinery. The union recently raised concerns over alleged unfair labour practices at the facility, a situation that triggered partial industrial action and drew nationwide attention.
Shettima warned that while workers’ rights must always be protected, such disputes should not endanger investments that are central to Nigeria’s growth prospects. He stressed that “national interest must prevail above personal or sectional considerations,” noting that the refinery’s success could save billions in foreign-exchange costs and boost local job creation.
Analysts say Shettima’s intervention highlights the government’s efforts to reassure both domestic and international investors at a time of heightened economic uncertainty. The ₦ 20-billion per-day refinery project, located in Lekki, Lagos State, is expected to meet much of Nigeria’s petroleum demand once fully operational, a milestone officials see as key to ending decades of fuel-import dependence.
Officials of the Dangote Group have yet to issue a formal response to Shettima’s remarks, but company sources welcomed the Vice-President’s expression of support, describing it as a “vote of confidence” in Nigeria’s industrial sector. Attempts to reach PENGASSAN for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
Shettima reaffirmed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to fostering dialogue between investors, government, and labour groups, adding that “Nigeria’s future cannot thrive in an atmosphere of hostility toward investment.”
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