Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to safeguard and support the multibillion-dollar investment of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, warning that the future of Nigeria’s economy depends on protecting such strategic ventures.
Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as “an institution” and a key pillar of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation. He specifically highlighted the $20 billion Dangote Refinery project, which has a 650,000 barrels-per-day processing capacity, as a national asset critical to the country’s growth and global competitiveness.
The Vice President’s comments come on the heels of last week’s industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), over the reported dismissal of around 800 unionised workers at the refinery. The strike, which raised concerns about disruptions in operations, was suspended after interventions by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Defending Dangote’s decision to invest domestically, Shettima urged Nigerians to appreciate and protect such rare patriotism.
“Aliko Dangote is not just an individual; he’s an institution — a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament,” he said. “Had he invested $10 billion in companies like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion today. But he chose to invest in Nigeria. We owe it to our future to promote, preserve, and protect that commitment.”
The Vice President also appealed for greater cooperation between labour unions and the private sector, stressing that industrial disputes must be handled with patriotism and caution to avoid damaging the country’s economic prospects.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom over a minor labour issue,” Shettima said. “Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.”
He concluded with a call for a balanced and collaborative approach in managing employer-employee relations, urging all stakeholders to prioritise national interest over narrow concern.
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