The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Federal Government to step in and protect the Dangote Refinery from potential threats arising from its faceoff with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

In a statement signed by the association’s Senate President, Comrade Usman Adamu Nagwaza, NANS warned that the lingering conflict could plunge the nation back into the dark days of fuel scarcity. The student body stressed that while unions play a vital role in defending workers’ rights, membership should remain voluntary, not enforced.

According to NANS, the country cannot afford a disruption in fuel supply at a time when the economy is slowly recovering. The association praised the Tinubu administration for maintaining stability in fuel availability and urged both sides to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation.

Of greater concern, the group revealed, are security alerts suggesting that powerful oil cartels—long accused of manipulating Nigeria’s fuel sector through subsidy rackets and smuggling—may be plotting to sabotage the refinery’s operations. Intelligence reports allegedly point to plans to target and destroy some of the facility’s newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks.

“We cannot stand by and watch a few individuals undermine a project that has created jobs, transferred knowledge to graduates, and boosted local production,” the statement read. “Any attack on these assets is an attack on Nigeria’s future.”

NANS called on the National Security Adviser and security agencies to take proactive steps to secure the refinery and its facilities. It also urged NUPENG to avoid being used by economic saboteurs and instead prioritize dialogue.

The Dangote Refinery, which has become a cornerstone in domestic fuel supply, is seen by the association as a critical partner in the nation’s economic growth. NANS insisted that protecting it must be treated as a national priority.