Yoruba Council, Coalition Groups Set for “Thank You” Rally to Back Dangote Refinery, Urge End to Oil Importation

President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, Oladotun Hassan, has announced plans for a mass rally in Lagos on Wednesday, November 12, organised in collaboration with several coalition groups, to express solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the management of the Dangote Refinery.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Hassan explained that the demonstration is aimed at appreciating the President’s economic reforms and his commitment to supporting indigenous industries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, which has become a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial independence.

He described recent attempts to disrupt the refinery’s operations as “economic sabotage,” revealing that there have been repeated efforts to undermine the facility’s progress.

“They have sabotaged the Dangote Refinery almost 22 times, shutting it down on September 8 and October 1, leading to losses of over N30 billion to the national coffers. This, to us, is a total economic sabotage,” Hassan said.

He noted that the refinery, with its capacity to refine 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is a national asset that deserves both protection and encouragement. “All we need to do is appreciate that company and thank the President for ensuring a policy direction that discourages oil importation, which only harms local industries,” he added.

Hassan also backed the Federal Government’s recent increase in tariff on imported oil products, comparing it to global trade measures.

“We saw how the U.S. imposed up to 200 percent tariffs during its trade dispute with China. We equally call on President Tinubu to raise Nigeria’s oil import tariffs to 200 percent to completely discourage importation. Oil importation is detrimental to Nigerian masses, we keep paying unnecessary costs when local refining can meet our needs,” he argued.

The Yoruba Council president said the rally, to be held at the Lagos State House of Assembly entrance by 11 a.m., would not only be a show of appreciation to President Tinubu but also a platform to demand a total halt to crude oil importation.

“We are calling for 100 percent crude oil allocation to Dangote Refinery. If the refinery gets enough supply, it will stabilize fuel prices, potentially bringing petrol down to N200 or even N100 per litre,” Hassan stated.

He maintained that the partnership between the Yoruba Council Worldwide and other Nigerian coalition groups is driven by a shared belief in supporting local production and national self-reliance.

“Now that Dangote is exporting oil to the U.S., India and other countries, we must rally around this success. Our goal on November 12 is simple, to say thank you to Mr. President and to demand a complete end to crude oil importation. Supporting Dangote Refinery means supporting Nigeria’s economic survival,” Hassan concluded.