Amazing How Nigerians Become Heroes in Secret and Villains in Public
Dear @DangoteGroup,
Your 4-page publication branding Nigerian engineers and PENGASSAN as “lawless” and “terrorists” reads less like a balanced account and more like an attempt to shape perception.
But perhaps it is more useful to view this not as a battle between DPRP and PENGASSAN, but as a reminder of something simpler, that unions exist to protect workers, especially when they feel abandoned. If these young engineers had been treated with the same dignity often extended to expatriates, maybe none of this drama would have surfaced.
Consider the irony. On the one hand, official statements accuse Nigerians of sabotage. On the other hand, HR quietly recalls previously disqualified applicants for medicals and onboarding. If all was truly under control, why scramble for the very people already deemed unfit? Maybe because the truth is that the refinery cannot run without these Nigerians, and by law, it shouldn't.
Just hours ago, a LinkedIn post by an Indian recruiter openly advertised refinery roles—Panel Operators, Shift In-Charge, CDU, HGU, RFCC, and more. Shortly after, another post appeared by Mukesh Sharma, listed as a Quality Control Officer at Dangote Refinery, sharing similar openings. If Nigerians were truly saboteurs and already replaced, why the sudden global search for operators? It suggests that refineries run not on glossy statements, but on capable hands, capable Boys and girls whom were praised to be the best by your CEO some days ago, and today were just shown the door.
We must remember the sacrifices of those dismissed. These were the people who pre-commissioned, commissioned, started up, and stabilized the plant. They worked six days on and one day off, sometimes stretching into 24-hour shifts during shutdowns. They purchased PPEs with their own money, endured the loss of lunch and rest facilities, and carried on even when they had no health insurance nor life insurances, all to make sure the refinery came alive. And in return, they were branded as saboteurs. Heroes in reality, villains in a press release kind of thing?
Even Annex Two of your own publication betrays the narrative. PENGASSAN’s statement that the Port Harcourt refinery lacked a reformer unit for direct PMS production was not mischief, it was a technical fact. The very quotes you highlighted confirmed it. Yet somehow, fact was recast as “terror tactics.” Nigerians are not blind to the contradiction; when workers state facts, it is branded mischief, but when management makes sweeping changes, it is called “in the interest of the refinery.”
The irony deepens. In your official publications, Nigerian engineers are painted as the problem. Yet in HR inboxes they suddenly become the solution. Below is the invitation a number of these Nigerians received just when this whole drama started. One day accused of sabotage, the next day, fresh ones quietly recalled to fill critical roles. Perhaps the refinery is learning, the hard way, that concrete and steel don’t refine fuel. People do. And it was these same Nigerian engineers that turned blueprints into reality.
Protecting investment should never mean discarding those who give it life. Credibility will come not from lengthy publications but from transparency; audited workforce composition, ratios of Nigerians to foreigners, HSE compliance records, welfare audits. Without these, it becomes difficult to justify why engineers who sacrificed so much were branded as “terrorists.”
Thank you.
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Huge Kudos to President Tinubu for Championing LGA Financial Autonomy – But One More Step Remains
The Supreme Court's judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments is potentially one of its most significant decisions in recent memory. It will ensure significant funds at the level of government closest to the people and potentially foster rural development. The Tinubu Administration deserves huge commendation for championing this noble cause.
However, more work remains to ensure that this judgment benefits Nigerians. Two major challenges need to be addressed:
1. Governors have become accustomed to these funds and may resort to any means to retain control over them. Many governors could manipulate flawed electoral systems to install stooges as chairmen, who might then transfer significant portions of the funds back to the governors.
2. Corruption is rampant among local government officials. Local governments are arguably the most corrupt level of government in Nigeria. Many officials might simply pocket part of the funds, distribute some among their thugs, political associates and praise singers, and abandon their duties until the next disbursement. I speak from experience, having worked as an assistant accountant and then senior account assistant in a local government for 10 years.
Therefore, I urge President Tinubu to complete the great work he started by establishing a structure (if one does not already exist) to ensure local governments retain their allocations and uphold accountability and transparency. The federal government might need to create a Ministry of Local Governments and Community Development mainly responsible for overseeing the activities of local government chairmen and disciplining offenders.
Alternatively, this responsibility could be assigned to an existing ministry or agency. In any case, this arrangement will require the National Assembly to pass a law authorising and empowering this new institution to supervise local governments effectively.
If this is done, Nigerians will reap the fruits of this judgment. Otherwise, it will be another big success only on paper.
Where are those people who laughed at me when I started #GrowNairaBuyNaija and said it would never work? Where are those who mocked when the Naira began to appreciate and said it will not last? We have gotten data. Instead of Naira crashing, it is MTN that is crashing. Nigerians are abandoning MTN and Airtel and porting to Glo. Soon, there will be no $20 million going to South Africa and India daily from Nigeria. Innoson is getting more orders. Air Peace is seeing a spike in sales. Let us continue to #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira
Drive Innoson, Nord or Jet Motors
Call with Glo
Build with Dangote and BUA
Eat breakfast with Nasco
Lunch and dinner with made in Nigeria rice, even if it has stones
Go on dates at Tantalisers and Suya spots
Drink Zobo
Celebrate with palm wine
Fly Air Peace over Air France, KLM, or Lufthansa
Shop at local markets
Eat cassava bread over foreign wheat bread
Watch Enyimba and Kano Pillars
See Nollywood movies at Silverbird
Stream Nigerian music
Wear aso oke, agbada, babanriga, or isi agu
@MuazuTilde thanks for patronising me, my hand work u can send samples while I produce it😃😃 alhamdullahi mission accomplished 😃 yaa Allah continue blessings our hustle