BY GODWIN OBI
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to respect and protect the multibillion-dollar investments of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stressing that defending such enterprises is vital to Nigeria’s economic stability and future prosperity.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as an institution and a pillar of Nigeria’s industrial growth, noting that his investments represent hope for national development.
He highlighted the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, with its 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity, as a strategic national asset crucial to Nigeria’s growth and global competitiveness.
The Vice President’s comments came on the heels of last week’s industrial action by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged dismissal of about 800 workers at the refinery. The strike was later suspended following the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Shettima commended Dangote’s commitment to investing massively within Nigeria rather than abroad, urging citizens to rally behind such patriotic efforts.
“Aliko Dangote is not just an individual; he’s an institution and a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament. How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders judge us,” Shettima said.
“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion today. But he chose to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to protect, promote, and preserve his efforts for the good of Nigeria.”
The Vice President also cautioned both labour unions and the organised private sector to exercise restraint and patriotism when resolving industrial disputes, warning that reckless actions could derail national progress.
“I wish to call for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector. We must maintain our steadily improving economic fortunes,” he said.
“It’s not about holding the entire nation to ransom over a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.”
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2025-10-03