Youths protest in Jos, demand crude oil supply to Dangote refinery

Members of the Arewa Youth Congress of Nigeria (AYCN) staged a protest on Wednesday to demand the supply of domestic crude to the Dangote Refinery.

NAN reports that the youth marched to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) office in Jos, the capital of Plateau state.

Naankin Sammani, the AYCN’s secretary, who led the protest, said the agitation was to draw attention to the hardships faced by Nigerians due to the refusal to supply crude to the Dangote Refinery.

Sammani added that refining crude locally would strengthen the nation’s economy.

“We are here to call the attention of the key players in the oil industry to give the necessary crude supply to the Dangote Refinery,” he said.

“That the Dangote Refinery needs the encouragement of all Nigerians, especially the NUPRC.

“NUPRC must ensure that the Dangote Refinery gets sufficient crude to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to follow up on his directive to supply crude to Dangote in local currency.”

The protesters carried placards with various messages, including “Anybody fighting Dangote Refinery is an enemy of Nigeria,” “the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) should ensure NNPC releases the crude oil due to Dangote Refinery,” and “NUPRC must comply with Section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act.”

Other placards read, “We demand that N1.7 billion worth of feedstock be given to the Dangote Refinery.”

No official from the NMDPRA addressed the protesters.