A coalition of Yoruba, youth, and civil society organizations has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the federal government’s approval of petroleum importation, warning that it threatens Nigeria’s local refining capacity and economic interests.

The Yoruba Council Worldwide, led by Aare Oladotun Hassan, joined forces with the Nigeria Coalition Group, Nigeria Youth Coalition, Coalition of Southern Groups, and the National Youth Stakeholders Forum in calling on the government to prioritize domestic refining, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

Hassan highlighted that the refinery currently processes 650,000 barrels per day, with expansion plans to reach 1.4 million barrels daily. He added that its storage capacity could sustain the nation for over a year, making fuel imports unnecessary.

Criticizing the issuance of import licenses to oil traders, Hassan argued that such a policy contradicts the government’s Nigeria-First agenda and hampers efforts to revive domestic refining. He proposed a strategic crude allocation plan to ensure the refinery receives at least 70% of national output, a measure he said would create jobs, increase revenue, and strengthen energy security.

The coalition also raised concerns about alleged sabotage and misinformation campaigns against the refinery, reportedly driven by oil cabals and some labor unions seeking to protect import interests. Hassan called for a full investigation into threats against the refinery, including reported shutdown plans linked to PENGASSAN.

The group commended Aliko Dangote for investing an additional N2 trillion in logistics and acquiring 10,000 tanker trucks to distribute fuel nationwide at no extra cost to marketers, describing the effort as patriotic.

Finally, the council urged President Tinubu to direct security and anti-corruption agencies to probe individuals and organizations suspected of undermining domestic refining, emphasizing the need to protect Nigeria’s energy sector from sabotage.