MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)
MOTTO: Dialogue, Not Violence
Address: No. 5, Oba Ayoka Street, Iba, Lagos State. Tel. 08033464974
Website: muricnigeria.com Email: muslimrights@gmail.com
11th November, 2025
ADDRESS READ BY PROFESSOR ISHAQ AKINTOLA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC) AT THE PEACEFUL RALLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH DANGOTE REFINERY HELD AT ALAUSA, IKEJA ON TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, 2025
There is no scintilla of doubt that Dangote Refinery has been a recurring decimal in our national dialogue in recent time. Though seen by many as a saving grace, the 1.4 barrels per day economic hub became endangered recently when lions in the oil unions roared.
As a human rights group conscious of its corporate social responsibility, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) deems it necessary to stand up and be counted among those entities that is ready to stand by the new refinery in the interest of Nigeria. That is why we are here today, Tuesday, 11th November, 2025 to exhibit our solidarity with Dangote Refinery. Our rally is peaceful and our members are law-abiding and peace-loving Muslims.
Nigerians have suffered undue economic hardship for decades. Our first bad experience in petrol-induced crises began in the post-June 12 military era and it continued for about 40 or more years. This period of pain and gnashing of teeth was characterized by fuel shortages leading to long queues and its attendant black-marketing, high prices and lots of uncertainties.
Meanwhile our three refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna continuously suffered from kwashiokor, epilepsy and Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. Nigerians who are not suffering from collective amnesia will recount our sufferings over the years from fuel-related yet self-inflicted injuries.
The tragedy staring us in the face is that of a country which Allah has blessed with all necessary facilities, manpower, mineral deposits and an expansive arable land. Our oil reserve capacity remains a proven 38 billion barrels and natural gas reserves of 210 Tscf. Though the leading oil producing country in Africa churning out 1.549 million barrels per day as at November 2025, Nigeria’s oil industry is often interrupted by industrial idiosyncrasies.
Topmost among the interruptions and distractions are the oil unions, particularly PENGASSAN and NUPENG. Although relief in scarcity of fuel, long queues and fuel price hike did not come until the Dangote Refinery came on board, the new refinery’s pedigree and great benefits to Nigeria as a country and to Nigerians as a people did not discourage the unions from causing mayhem. They insisted on being in control of unionism in the refinery until they brought operations to a complete halt by declaring a strike.
The strike cut Nigeria’s oil output by 600,000 barrels (https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/07/dangote-refinery-strike-cuts-nigeria-oil-output-by-600000-barrels//). The price of gas which is currently between N1,500 and N1,200 and the increase began when the unions went on strike over their clash with Dangote Refinery. In essence, we can infer here that PENGASSAN and other oil unions are hurting Nigerians. They are inflicting pain on Nigerians. We therefore charge the Federal Government (FG) to rescue poor Nigerians.
Nigeria cannot afford to waste a $20 billion investment that is already performing such wonders. Dangote Refinery is a money spinner. It is Nigeria’s goose that is laying the golden egg. Yet this is the same refinery that the unions wish to strangulate. Nigerians must not be caught napping.
We must not allow any union or group of persons to destabilize Dangote Refinery. In particular, we should not allow the subsidy cabal to replicate what they did to Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries in Dangote Refinery.
At this juncture, we must appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for removing subsidy and for introducing a 15% tariff on imported goods. But subsidy locusts and subsidy cabals may be fighting back. We therefore call on FG to protect Dangote Refinery like its own baby. Foreign and private investors will be scared if FG fails to protect it. We must also –understand that any attack on Dangote Refinery is an attack on the Nigerian economy.
There is a strong allegation of sabotage of the refinery by people suspected to be loyal to the unions. The unions may have contributed in no small measure to the collapse and unworkability of the country’s three refineries, namely Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.
The interest of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is for a greater Nigeria. Crisis in the oil sector will always affect the hoi polloi as prices of fuel, transportation, foodstuff and those of all goods will go up once there is crisis in the oil sector. This will make life unbearable for the masses.
It is logical to assume that oil union leaders benefit from all these since their check off dues must continue ad infinitum. But they must leave Dangote Refinery alone because it is a private refinery.
This is why we have decided to organize a peaceful rally in solidarity with the $20 billion refinery. Our presence here today is to sensitize Nigerians and to sound a note of warning to the oil unions. Dangote Refinery is a private company. No union should be allowed to control it. We all know what most Nigerians do with government properties.
We appeal to the National Assembly (NASS) to review labour laws. We strongly believe that any law that enables unions to dictate to private investors is a draconian law, particularly in the oil sector where any little instability is bound to have ripple effects on the socio-economic life of Nigerians.
BENEFITS OF DANGOTE REFINERY:
Exportation of Refined Oil: Within a period of one year, the capacity of the refinery has risen to 1.4 million barrels per day. Dangote Refinery has started exporting refined oil to the United States, Spain, France, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Cameroon and Angola (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/dangote-refinery-usa-spain-france-south-korea-singapore-others-make-top-10-importers/; https://businessday.ng/business-economy/article/these-4-african-countries-buy-petrol-from-dangote-refineries/).
Earning of Foreign Currency: One of the problems of Nigeria is consumerism. We produce scarcely nothing. We are consumers and our country has become a dumping ground for finished products. But as a result of Dangote Refinery’s exports of oil, Nigeria has started earning foreign currency.
Rise in the Value of the Naira: This also explains why the naira has started climbing up. The hard currency flowing into the country is propping up our naira.
Drop in Inflation: Our inflation rate which stood at 33.88 as at October 2024 (https://www.stears.co/article/macro-data-bulletin-nigerias-inflation-rate-climbs-to-3388-in-october-2024/) fell back to 18.02% in September 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/breaking-nigerias-inflation-rate-drops-to-18-02-in-september/). This can be attributed to the oil-export-induced performance of the naira.
OUR DEMANDS:
- 100% crude allocation to Dangote Refinery;
- Total stoppage of oil importation into the country;
- Supply of crude oil in naira to Dangote Refinery;
- The National Assembly must review labour laws and enact new investor-friendly ones;
- PENGASSAN and NUPENG should be banned from operating in private oil refineries;
- The Federal Government must protect Dangote Refinery.
- Implementation of the 15% tariff on imported products must start immediately and
- The dumping of imported products on Nigerian soil should stop.
Thank you for listening.
Long Live Dangote Refinery!
Long Live MURIC!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Great Muricians! Allah is the Greatest!
Great Nigerian People! Allah is the Greatest!!!
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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