Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Thousands of protesters brought parts of Kaduna city to a standstill on Monday as they marched under the banner of the Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP), calling out what they described as attempts by powerful oil cartels to undermine Nigeria’s economic recovery. The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards reading “Protect Local Refining,” “End Fuel Import Cartel,” and “Support Dangote Refinery,” assembled at Murtala Mohammed Square before proceeding through major streets including Alkali Road, Ali Akilu Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Muhammadu Buhari Way.
PANEP leaders, Igwe Ude-Umanta and Dahiru Maishanu, told the crowd that the Kaduna rally was part of a nationwide effort to resist “economic saboteurs” determined to keep Nigeria dependent on imported fuel. Ude-Umanta emphasised that the movement, which began in Abuja on October 2, aims to protect local refineries and restore economic self-reliance. He highlighted Kaduna’s industrial past, recalling how the city’s textile sector collapsed due to sabotage by foreign interests aided by local collaborators, and warned that similar attempts are now targeting the petroleum sector.
The protesters, rallying under the theme “National Unity Against Sabotage: Reclaiming Our Petroleum Sector for the People,” urged urgent government intervention to shield the Dangote Refinery from what they termed systematic attacks by fuel importation cartels. PANEP called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum Resources, to ensure local refineries receive crude oil at the same prices sold to foreign buyers, citing this as essential to sustaining operations and boosting investor confidence.
Leaders further demanded an end to indiscriminate fuel importation or the imposition of heavy tariffs to protect domestic industries, arguing that protecting local production is critical for economic sovereignty. Maishanu accused the cartel of monopolising fuel importation, blocking the sale of locally refined products like LPG and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (Jet A1) at lower prices, and artificially inflating costs to protect their profits.
The crowd also commended the Dangote Refinery for its early success in reducing fuel prices, noting that Nigerians are already benefiting from local refining efforts. The protest concluded with calls for decisive action from the government to safeguard the refinery and ensure Nigeria’s economic progress is not held hostage by selfish interests.
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