In a historic, defiant, and emotionally charged display of mass resistance, youths, women, activists, and civil society leaders poured into the streets of Asaba, Delta State, in what is now being dubbed the “Citizens’ Uprising Against Oil Sabotage.”
Their target? A deeply entrenched oil cartel they say has hijacked Nigeria’s economy, enslaved its people, and is now plotting to destroy the country’s most significant industrial breakthrough: The Dangote Refinery.
A REFINERY UNDER SIEGE
At the heart of the nationwide protests lies a dramatic faceoff between the Dangote Refinery and powerful oil sector unions — PENGASSAN, NUPENG, DAPPMAN, and PETROAN — accused of launching an orchestrated campaign to sabotage Nigeria’s dream of local refining.
As the rally progressed along the Asaba end of Onitsha head bridge under the banner of Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP), a fiery political statement was made as speaker after speaker tore into the oil unions, labelling them “public enemies,” “economic terrorists,” and “heartless profiteers of poverty.”
In a thunderous address that ignited the crowd at the Asaba-Onitsha Bridgehead, PANEP Chairman Comrade Danesi Momoh declared: “Festus Osifo and his PENGASSAN cartel have become Public Enemy Number One. Their monopoly of madness must end. The Nigerian people are awake, and we will not let saboteurs kill our last hope of energy independence!”
NATIONAL GRITLOCK, NATIONAL MESSAGE
As the rally surged through Onitsha Road, Abraka, and the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway, traffic came to a standstill as placards read: “Stop Petroleum Importation Now!” “Protect Dangote Refinery, Save Nigeria!” “Oil Cartels Are Killing Us!”
Security forces were deployed to keep order, but the demonstration remained peaceful , yet loud, and symbolic enough to force national attention. This was no ordinary protest. This was a citizens’ movement, and the message was thunderously clear: “We are done begging. We are reclaiming the petroleum sector for the Nigerian people.”
WHO’S REALLY THE ENEMY?
PANEP and allied civil society leaders issued a stinging indictment of the role of oil unions in perpetuating decades of fuel importation, which has drained Nigeria’s foreign reserves, enriched foreign cartels, and plunged ordinary citizens into suffering.
“The real enemies of Nigeria,” said youth activist Comrade Olamide Odumosu, “are those who have turned our oil wealth into their private ATM. These unions aren’t fighting for workers. They’re fighting for their importation rackets and kickbacks.”
The Dangote Refinery, according to PANEP, is under “deliberate economic attack” because it threatens these entrenched interests. With the refinery now capable of producing refined fuel locally, the old business model — importing dirty fuel at inflated costs — is collapsing.
“This is not just about Dangote. It’s about Nigeria’s survival,” said Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta. “The refinery stands for economic sovereignty. Anyone trying to kill it is committing treason against the people.”
PANEP’S BOMBSHELL DECLARATION
In a defining move, PANEP formally declared Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN President, persona non grata in all 774 local government areas in Nigeria — effectively banning him from every public space.
“We are not waiting for the courts. The court of public opinion has ruled. Osifo and his allies are enemies of the people. They will not be allowed to sabotage our future,” Momoh declared to deafening cheers.
PRESIDENT TINUBU: FRIEND OR FOE?
Interestingly, the rally also included strong praise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom the protesters credited with supporting local refining efforts and ensuring crude oil allocations to the Dangote Refinery.
“President Tinubu must finish what he started,” said Comrade Solomon Adodo. “We need him to declare war on sabotage, ensure crude supply, and break the grip of these oil mafia lords once and for all.”
However, the tone was cautionary: the people expect action. Failure to rein in the oil unions, PANEP warned, could lead to “nationwide civil resistance on a scale never before seen.”
THE BIGGER BATTLE: NIGERIA’S ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
The Asaba rally was not isolated. It followed similar uprisings in Abuja and Kaduna earlier in October. Clearly, what began as support for a single refinery has now grown into a full-fledged national economic revolution.
At its core is a desperate, patriotic desire to end Nigeria’s humiliating dependence on imported petroleum, restore dignity to local industry, create jobs, and ensure that the nation’s vast natural wealth finally benefits its citizens.
“They killed our public refineries. They profited off our poverty. But now that a Nigerian dares to fix what they broke, they want him destroyed?” Comrade Jabir Maiturari asked rhetorically. “We say NEVER AGAIN!”
FINAL WARNING TO THE OIL CARTELS
In closing, PANEP issued what it called the “Last Citizens’ Ultimatum” to the oil unions and their alleged collaborators in government agencies:
“Back off the Dangote Refinery. Stop the sabotage. Or face the full weight of a united Nigerian people.”
The group vowed to continue mobilizing across the nation, state by state, until “every saboteur is exposed and every refinery protected.”
THE MOVEMENT HAS BEGUN
The rally concluded with an invitation to all Nigerians to join what the organizers described as “The Oil Sector Independence Movement”, aligning the current struggle with the spirit of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
“This is the new independence struggle,” Comrade Adeyeye Olugbenga said. “The battle for energy freedom. The war against sabotage. And the march for national dignity. We will not stop. We cannot stop.”
