Students under the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have urged President Bola Tinubu to safeguard the Dangote Refinery from acts of sabotage, describing the facility as a national strategic asset rather than just a business venture.

The students staged a protest march through the streets of Benin City, emphasizing that the refinery represents Nigeria’s ability to produce what the country has long imported. They accused some actors within PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and DAPMAN of aligning with fuel importation cartels to protect a system built on Nigeria’s dependency on foreign fuel.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, NAPS National President Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan called on the federal government to fully defend the refinery, warning that any sabotage should be treated as economic terrorism.

He added that ensuring 100% crude oil allocation to the Dangote Refinery would help lower fuel prices, strengthen the Naira, and reduce the country’s foreign exchange outflow.

Comrade Oghayan also emphasized the need to halt fuel importation entirely, arguing that partial measures—such as the 15% cut in fuel imports approved by President Tinubu—are insufficient for full economic recovery.

He stated:

“We demand national priority for locally refined fuel in government procurement, transport, aviation, power, and military sectors. We urge Mr. President to dismantle the importation cartel and support genuine national industrialization. Nigeria must refine what we use.”

The students’ call highlights growing youth advocacy for self-sufficiency in energy production and support for policies that strengthen local industries.