Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians to respect and protect the huge investments made by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, saying that such ventures are vital to the country’s economic stability and growth.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday, Shettima described Dangote as a key figure in Nigeria’s industrial and economic development.
He emphasized that the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is a national asset that must be preserved for future generations.
The vice president’s remarks followed last week’s industrial action by oil workers under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged dismissal of about 800 unionised staff at the refinery. The strike was later suspended after the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Shettima praised Dangote for choosing to invest massively in Nigeria rather than abroad, noting that such commitment deserves national appreciation.
“Dangote is not just an individual; he’s an institution. How we treat him will influence how the world sees us. If he had invested $10 billion in tech giants like Microsoft or Amazon, he could be worth $70–80 billion today. But he chose Nigeria, and we must protect that choice,” Shettima said.
He also appealed to labour unions and the private sector to act with patriotism and caution when handling disputes, warning that reckless actions could damage Nigeria’s economic progress.
“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN, greater than all of us. We must approach labour issues with wisdom and a sense of national interest,” he added.
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