The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to prioritise selling crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira, arguing that the measure would help lower fuel prices and boost domestic refining capacity.
Speaking on Tuesday during a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertilizer Ltd. by members of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria and NLC officials, Lagos State NLC Chairperson Funmi Sesi warned that forcing the refinery to import crude or pay in dollars for locally sourced supply could derail the anticipated relief in fuel costs for Nigerians.
“This country has crude oil in abundance. Why is Dangote still importing crude or paying in hard currency for locally produced crude?” she asked.
“If the government truly wants to lower fuel prices and support local refining, it must sell crude oil to Dangote in Naira,” she added.
Sesi noted that sourcing crude locally and paying in Naira would significantly cut operational costs, paving the way for a sustained drop in fuel prices.
She commended Dangote Ltd. for developing a transformative national asset that addresses Nigeria’s fuel supply gap, generates employment, and enhances industrial capacity.
According to her, the scale and strategic importance of the Dangote Group’s investments are already delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians.
“Today, we have seen the refinery, the fertilizer plant, and other investments in this axis. The size and impact are enormous and impressive,” she said.
She described the projects as deliberate efforts to boost the availability of essential products, generate employment, and drive Nigeria’s industrialisation.
Recalling the sharp increase in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) prices following the removal of petrol subsidies, Sesi said the entry of Dangote’s refinery had helped stabilise the market. She added that the refinery’s operations have significantly reduced PMS and other refined product prices, underscoring the private sector’s capacity to lead in the industry.
“With a 650,000-barrel daily capacity, this refinery can serve Nigeria and West Africa. We also saw large vessels exporting fertilizers to other countries,” she said.
She lauded Aliko Dangote for establishing a fully operational, world-class refinery capable of meeting both domestic and regional refined petroleum needs.
Sesi also praised the production of Euro-5-compliant fuel with lower sulphur content, noting that it aligns with global environmental standards and boosts Nigeria’s reputation in the international market.
“This is the pride we want — a Nigerian company producing at global standards, changing the narrative, and boosting our global standing,” she said.
