KEY POINTS

• NANS warns neglect of refining sector may spark protests.

• Local refining capacity is crucial to energy security.

• Students urge government action to protect refinery investments.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned against policies that could weaken Nigeria’s petroleum refining sector, cautioning that sustained neglect may trigger nationwide student protests.

At a mass rally in Abuja, Asaba, and Lagos, NANS President Olushola Oladoja said the demonstration aimed to spotlight the problems facing domestic refineries and press for stronger government support for local fuel production.

Refining sector neglect may spark student protests

Oladoja described the campaign as a “national warning action,” noting it sought to shift government focus from import dependence to refining capacity. He warned that further policy failures could lead to nationwide highway occupations by Nigerian students.

He criticised the country’s continued reliance on imported petroleum products despite its oil wealth, calling it a contradiction that drives up costs and stifles employment. Nigeria’s refineries, he also said, have been crippled by years of mismanagement and neglect.

Local refining capacity key to energy security

The NANS leader urged the government to prioritise refinery revitalisation as part of broader economic reforms.

He emphasized how crucial it is to safeguard industrial operations by implementing open rules and granting both public and private processors equitable access to crude oil.

He cautioned that neglecting the refining sector might erode industrial potential and jobs, replicating the collapse of Nigeria’s textile industry. To further guarantee productivity and energy security, Oladoja urged the government, investors, and labor unions to work together consistently.

Furthermore NANS reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, saying the students’ movement would continue to push for reforms that promote employment, national growth, and economic stability.