By Aminu Garko
Kano, Dec. 18, 2025 (NAN)
The Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) has issued a stark warning to the Federal Government, calling for the urgent resolution of the protracted dispute with the Dangote Group over its landmark refinery. The chamber cautions that failure to act decisively threatens to collapse key economic sectors and reverse Nigeria’s fragile gains in energy independence.
In an exclusive briefing with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), KACCIMA President, Mr. Hassan Darma, framed the impasse as a critical inflection point for the national economy. He stressed that the Dangote Refinery is not merely a private project but a strategic national asset, representing a $20 billion investment designed to end Nigeria’s costly dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The Core of the Dispute and Its Ripple Effects
While specific details of the dispute are often shrouded in complex commercial and regulatory terms, industry analysts point to several potential friction points: crude oil supply agreements and pricing, tax and fiscal incentives, pipeline access, and product distribution frameworks. Darma emphasized that any prolonged uncertainty directly jeopardizes the refinery’s operational stability.
“The Dangote Group is a leading indigenous conglomerate providing direct and indirect employment to hundreds of thousands of Nigerians,” Darma stated. “Unresolved issues surrounding the refinery could force a scale-down of operations, leading to massive job losses. In a country where unemployment is a primary driver of insecurity, this is a risk we cannot afford.”
Beyond Jobs: A Threat to Macroeconomic Stability
The implications extend far beyond the refinery’s payroll. A fully operational Dangote Refinery is central to Nigeria’s balance of payments strategy. By meeting domestic demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel, and aviation fuel, it could save the nation billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually—forex that is desperately needed to stabilize the Naira and fund other imports. Delaying its optimal output perpetuates fuel subsidy burdens and import dependency, draining scarce public resources.
Darma linked the current climate to broader governance challenges, citing recent allegations of corruption against former heads of state oil entities. “Transparency and accountability in all dealings, especially concerning public-private partnerships, are non-negotiable for restoring investor confidence,” he asserted. “This dispute, if allowed to fester, is perceived by the business community as a form of economic sabotage. It sends a chilling message to both local and foreign investors.”
He also dismissed narratives framing the conflict as Dangote’s quest for sector monopoly. “The goal should be to get this strategic asset working at full capacity for the benefit of the nation. A successful Dangote Refinery would actually stimulate competition by proving the viability of large-scale refining in Nigeria, potentially attracting other investors.”
A Call for Strategic Intervention
KACCIMA’s appeal is ultimately a call for the government to prioritize creating an enabling environment for local industrialists. “Sustainable economic growth is built on the foundation of strong, homegrown businesses,” Darma concluded. “The government must move with urgency to resolve this dispute, not just through administrative fiat, but through structured, transparent dialogue that recognizes the refinery’s paramount importance to our economic security.”
The chamber’s warning underscores a critical juncture for Nigerian economic policy: the choice between resolving institutional impediments to unleash private sector potential or allowing them to cripple a project vital for the country’s industrial and energy future.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AAG/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
Media Credits
Image Credit: nsenergybusiness.com
