At the bustling Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima took a moment to spotlight one of Nigeria's most influential figures—Aliko Dangote. With admiration, he urged Nigerians to honour and safeguard the investments of Africa’s wealthiest man, emphasising that protecting such vital ventures is key to Nigeria’s economic stability and future.

Shettima characterised Dangote as more than just a businessman; he’s an institution and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s growth. Central to this is the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, a behemoth with the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of oil daily—an asset of immense national importance that bolsters Nigeria’s place on the global economic stage.

However, these commendations come amid recent disruptions. Last week, oil workers in Nigeria, under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, staged a strike over the dismissal of roughly 800 unionised employees at the refinery. The industrial action was eventually called off after the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu stepped in to mediate.

Throughout his speech, Shettima also praised Dangote’s decision to focus his investments domestically, highlighting that such positive contributions deserve collective support and recognition from every Nigerian.

He said, “Aliko Dangote, he’s not an individual, he’s an institution, and he’s a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament. And how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, in Amazon, or in Google, he probably might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now.

“But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this great Nigeria.”

The Vice President also appealed to both labour unions and the organised private sector to show restraint and patriotism in resolving industrial disputes, warning that reckless actions could undermine national progress.

“I wish to call for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry in the interest of maintaining our steadily improving economic fortunes. It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute.

“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us. I’m not coming to you as a partisan,” he added.