The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against any moves that could disrupt operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, in a statement on Friday, described the refinery as a landmark project that represents the economic future of more than 200 million Nigerians. He said the youth would resist any attempt to undermine it.

“With a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery has the potential to end fuel importation, meet Nigeria’s daily demand of about 550,000 barrels, and even create room for exports,” Oladoja said.

He added that the project goes beyond energy, symbolizing national survival and economic sovereignty. “This is about our dignity as a nation. Nigerian students will not allow any group or cartel to mortgage our future,” he stressed.

Oladoja called on oil marketers and unions to put national interest above private concerns, warning that youths across the country are prepared to resist any form of sabotage.

He also praised Aliko Dangote for what he called his patriotic decision to invest massively in Nigeria instead of moving capital abroad. According to him, the refinery will not only create jobs but also sustain the economy for generations.

The caution follows rising tensions between the refinery and oil workers’ unions. Earlier in September, Dangote Group and NUPENG signed a government-mediated agreement guaranteeing workers’ right to unionize. Within days, however, NUPENG accused the company of backtracking and intimidating drivers by ordering them to remove union stickers before loading fuel. The refinery dismissed the allegations as blackmail.

NANS has now positioned itself as a key voice in the dispute, vowing to defend what it sees as one of the most important industrial projects in Nigeria’s history.