Bishop Matthew Kukah, ex-Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and other prominent Nigerians have warned that the dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN could scare off investors and destabilize the economy.
In a joint statement Tuesday, the group praised the government’s intervention but lamented that frequent strikes and corporate opacity threaten Nigeria’s already fragile investment climate.
They noted that the Dangote Refinery had begun easing petrol prices—down from ₦1,500 to about ₦820—but warned that renewed industrial strife could erase the gains.
The group urged a balance between labour rights and business stability, calling both parties to accountability.
Critics, however, say the Tinubu administration’s selective mediation exposes its pro-elite bias: quick to protect conglomerates, slow to protect ordinary workers.
“Workers’ rights must not be negotiable only when billionaires are involved,” one activist said.
As fuel prices remain high and inflation soars, the dispute serves as a test of whether Nigeria still has an economy that rewards productivity—or just privilege.
