The Nigeria Coalition Group and the Yoruba Council Worldwide on Tuesday staged a solidarity protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in support of the Dangote Refinery and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the protest, the leader of both groups, Aare Oladotun Hassan, declared: “We demand the immediate implementation of the 15 percent import duty tax tariffs and a total ban and end to fuel Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).”
Hassan insisted that the refinery must be given full backing by government authorities. “We demand onward allocation of 100 percent crude oil exploration access to Dangote Refinery,” he said, stressing that the refinery represents a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic independence.
The coalition also criticized the stance of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), which, according to Hassan, “are lobbying for extension till the end of the first quarter of 2026.”
Turning his attention to organized labor, Hassan condemned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) led by Comrade Festus Osifo. He accused the union of “premeditated orchestrated shutting down of Dangote Refinery, continuous deceitful decoy, unfounded allegation, spread of evil narratives and nefarious conduct against Dangote Refinery.”
The protesters were received by Hon. Noheen Adam, the lawmaker representing Ibeju Lekki, alongside the Clerk of the House. Hassan explained that the delegation assured them of forwarding their demands to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa. “They promised to deliver our message to Mr. Speaker and they will get back to us,” Hassan told reporters.
The solidarity protest, according to organizers, was meant to reaffirm support for the refinery project and the president’s economic agenda. Hassan concluded: “This is about Nigeria’s future. We stand firmly with Dangote Refinery and with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
