The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised concern over what it described as a calculated plot by entrenched interests to cripple the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, warning that such actions pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and investment reputation.

The Northern socio-political group said this In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T.A. Muhammad-Baba,
expressing concern over Refinery’s challenges, including regulatory interference, crude oil disruptions and labour union disputes.

According to the Forum, the refinery, reputed as “Nigeria’s largest and most modern indigenous crude oil processing outfit”, has been subjected to “an unrelenting onslaught” since its inception.

“Evidentially, the challenges are the handiworks of entrenched subterranean interests or the proverbial cabals, bent on maintaining an asphyxiating hold on the oil sector and the national economy,” the ACF declared.

The Forum alleged that some vested interests are uncomfortable with the refinery’s potential to reform Nigeria’s petroleum products supply chain, which for decades has been mired in controversies, subsidy rackets, and inefficiencies.

“From conception, implementation and commissioning, the Dangote Refinery has faced all sorts of obstacles, confident that its success would change the sordid narrative about petroleum supply long dominated by sharp practices and inefficiencies,” the statement noted.

The ACF further condemned the alleged pressure on Dangote Refinery workers to join PENGASSAN, describing it as coercive and unconstitutional.

“What is questionable has been the forceful nature of demand for workers at the Dangote Refinery to join PENGASSAN. The constitutional provision does not confer automatic membership on anyone; it is an individual’s right to accept or reject membership,” it stressed.

Backing Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s legal action to protect the refinery from industrial disruption, the Forum expressed dismay that PENGASSAN had allegedly refused to obey a subsisting court order restraining it from interfering with operations at the facility.

“It should be concerning to all law-abiding citizens that PENGASSAN refuses to comply with a subsisting court order against any disruption to the Refinery’s operations,” the Forum stated.

The ACF aligned itself with calls by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who both advised that workers should allow the refinery to stabilize before pursuing unionization.

“ACF believes that a prime consideration for the workers should at this time be ensuring that the Refinery is fully functional as a workplace before workers can unionize,” it added.

The Forum warned that attempts to destabilize the multi-billion-dollar refinery could discourage both domestic and international investors and send negative signals about Nigeria’s business climate.

“Putting down the Dangote Petroleum complex is a potent disincentive to domestic and international investors because it sends wrong signals to investors,” the statement read.

Describing the Dangote Refinery as a “strategic national asset”, ACF urged the Federal Government to protect it from what it termed “internal and external sabotage.”

It recommended that the refinery be listed in a National Register of Strategic Assets, ensuring it enjoys special protection under national security provisions.

The Forum also called for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to identify and sanction individuals or groups behind recurring industrial actions that paralyze vital industries.

“We call for a commission of enquiry, with judicial powers, to unearth the brains behind incessant strikes by employees of vital national and private institutions, so that strikes do not result in acts of sabotage,” the statement said.

ACF further urged the Federal Government to take firm measures — without violating labour rights — to prevent any union from undermining the country’s economic stability through unnecessary industrial actions.

Nigeria’s labour unions ought to be wary of the real international conspiracy and related machinations aimed at sabotaging Nigeria’s and Africa’s quests for indigenous industrial development,” it cautioned.

While welcoming ongoing government negotiations to resolve the impasse between the refinery and labour unions, ACF expressed hope that the truce reached would be permanent.

“The Dangote Refinery must not be allowed to fail. Protecting such a facility is not just about one businessman; it is about defending Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and future,” the Forum emphasized.

It has been jubilation galore among civil servants in Imo State as the state government made good its promise of paying an improved minimum wage of N104,000.

Governor Hope Uzodimma had, a few weeks ago, approved the payment of N104,000 for any fresh government worker, ₦513,000 for medical doctors, and N220,000 entry-point salary for lecturers in the state tertiary institutions.

With this development, Imo State is now the highest in payment of minimum wage in the country. Othre states with minimum wage above the federal government approved N70,000 are, Lagos State and Rivers State with ₦88,000 and 85,000 respectively while Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa are at par, each offering ₦80,000.

Justifying the government’s increase in minimum wage, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Prince Eze Ugochukwu, said it would boost the economy of the state, and change the fortunes of civil servants in the state.

The Special Adviser in a statement made available to the media on Sunday said: “Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration is spearheading this considerable policy change, which is poised to have a substantial impact on the state’s economic and social well-being.

“The goal of this wage hike is to bolster the financial capacity of workers, empowering them to better address their requirements and invest in goods and services. This, in turn, would give a shot in the arm to local businesses.

“Following Imo, Lagos is offering the next highest minimum wage, clocking in at ₦88,000, with Rivers coming in at ₦85,000. Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa are close behind, each offering ₦80,000.

“The ramifications of this adjustment will be far-reaching, with economic activity getting a boost. Increased spending will give the local economy a lift.”

President Bola Tinubu has said that Abia remains essential to the economic development plan of the federal government, hence its investment in the state.

Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi said this while addressing Abia residents during the inauguration of seven roads in Aba on Friday.

He thanked Abia people for coming out enmass to welcome him, saying that the gesture showed their love for him, the governor, and ongoing infrastructure development in the state.

He said that the inaugurated roads, including Gabriel Nwosu Road, Ajiwe Road, Pepple’s Road, Ndoki Road, Umuatako and Ohanku Roads as well as Port Harcourt Road, had restored Aba’s lost glory.

The president also said that Abia’s importance in Nigeria’s economic development plan is the reason the government is completing the Umuahia – Aba Expressway, costing N66 billion.

He also said that 14 kilometres of the 49-kilometre Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road had been completed, while the remaining 35 kilometres had been handed over to Otti “on his request to complete”.

He said that the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway would intersect with the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road at Akwa Ibom, which would ensure access to Lagos in five hours from Abia.

The president further said that the government had completed 50 kilometres of the highway, consisting of one full carriageway and half, which is part of the Ikot Ekpene – Aba Road, costing N65 billion.

He said that work would soon start on the second carriageway.
He said that the 43-km Aba – Port Harcourt dual carriageway has had one part completed, which would also ensure residents reached Port Harcourt in 30 minutes.

Tinubu also spoke on his reforms, saying that they were beginning to yield gains with foreign reserve hitting N42 billion and inflation coming down to below 20 per cent.

The minister assured the people that the president would come in person before the end of the year, saying that he could not make the trip for the road inauguration due to the exigencies of duty.

Earlier, Gov Alex Otti thanked the federal government for assisting in the restoration of Aba as an industrial and commercial city.

Otti said that after the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, the city had regained commercial patronage from neighbouring states.

He also said that the restoration of Aba pointed to the gains of collaboration among different tiers of government, pointing out that post-election politics need not be an obstruction to governance.

He appreciated Umahi as the Works minister, who took interest in improving the federal highways across the country, according to the president’s development vision.

Otti also thanked the president for his interest in matters of socioeconomic development of Abia and the war against insecurity.

He acknowledged that economic indices were improving and resulting in the released of funds for investment and thanked the president for his reforms.

The president had, earlier in Umuahia, inaugurated the renovated and retrofitted Okpara Auditorium and commended Otti for “turning the edifice into a sight of beauty”.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the demolition of houses belonging to igbos in Lagos.

Kalu made the appeal on Friday, in a speech at a reception held at the Enyimba International Stadium in honour of Tinubu after he had inaugurated some projects in Abia.
He also appealed to the president to approve the construction of another seaport in the South East to enhance development.

“Mr President, we want to thank you for what you are doing in our state through our governor and what you are doing around the South East.
“But I must say it is about time that we had another sea port in the South East;
South Easterners are mainly traders and
We need a seaport to enhance our trading.

“I also want to say that the destruction and the demolition of the houses, the offices of our brothers in Lagos, makes our hearts bleed,” he said.

Kalu pleaded with the president to speak with the Lagos State governor to allow the Igbo people whose houses have not been destroyed already to regularize their documents.
He said that destruction at this time of hardship makes the hearts of victims bleed, stressing that the need for an amicable resolution rather than destruction of property.

Kalu said governance is about partnership, hence the state must partner the federal government, and the federal government must partner the state.
He said that although he is an All Progressives Congress (APC) party member, it is his character to support the governors of his state to ensure the state succeeded and promised to support Alex Otti to succeed.
“I have gone with him from the morning, visiting all the projects till this evening, and I have seen the state’s projects carried out by the governor, and for that, we commend him.
“But as a member and citizen of this state, I request, like Oliver Twist, that the governor should do more,” he said.

He thanked the president for his assistance in the projects in Abia and urged the Abia Information Commissioner and media houses in Abia to accord Tinubu his merited credits.
Kalu said this would induce the president to do more for the state and the South East which he had shown love to.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, on Saturday, said that the state’s vision for emergency management was to move from being reactive to becoming preventive.

The commissioner said this on the sidelines of the ongoing National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference 2025 holding in Lagos.

Oyerinde said: “We don’t want to continually be in a cycle of emergencies. The next stage is to identify risks early and prevent untold incidents.

“Emergency management must start from the grassroots. It is not about massive resources but about showing capacity and engaging communities from the local level upward.”

The National SEMA Conference, which started on October 2, will end on October 4, 2025.

It is a gathering of emergency management stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

These stakeholders are to chart a coordinated framework for disaster preparedness and resilience across Nigeria.

The conference has the theme, “Strengthening Sub-national Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria.”

Oyerinde expressed gratitude to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for enabling Lagos to host the landmark event.

“This opportunity to host the National State Emergency Management Conference in Lagos has been an awesome learning experience.

“The second day focused on practical demonstrations of emergency practice, giving other states the chance to learn from Lagos’ model.

“We want to assure residents of our readiness to be preventive rather than reactive.

“We are giving this assurance through Mr. Governor, whose commitment to safety has inspired all of us,” he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the governor and the political leadership of the state for their unwavering support.

He said: “We give kudos to Mr. Governor for his political will and ownership of the emergency management agenda.

“Special appreciation also goes to the Commissioner for Special Duties for always providing the political umbrella under which we operate.

“Most importantly, I salute our first responders, who work tirelessly, 24 hours a day, often risking their lives to safeguard others.

“Their dedication is the true backbone of our emergency system.”

He stressed that Lagos was not only safeguarding its own citizens but also sharing its knowledge and experience with other states.

“Nigeria can now see Lagos sharing its journey from small beginnings to today’s robust system.

“This is the spirit of collaboration that will strengthen resilience nationwide.”

NAN reports that the Lagos State Government demonstrated practically its search and rescue/recovery operations at the ongoing National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference 2025.

The maiden national conference brought together emergency stakeholders nationwide to witness firsthand how Lagos has institutionalised best practices in disaster preparedness and response.

The simulation exercise held at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Relief Centre, Igando, was dedicated to holistic, hands-on emergency drills, ranging from rescue operations to disaster simulations.

The exercise was designed to share lessons with other states and strengthen inter-agency collaboration across Nigeria.

The conference, jointly organised by NEMA and LASEMA, has emphasised grassroots preparedness, risk reduction and proactive strategies as central themes.

It continues to provide a national platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and building a unified approach to emergency management across Nigeria.