The Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba L’Agbaye) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately stop the issuance of petroleum importation licences allegedly granted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to certain oil marketers.
In an open letter to the President signed by Aare Oladotun Hassan, Esq, President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, and dated November 3, 2025, the group accused a network of “oil cabals” of economic sabotage, terrorism, and a coordinated plot to blackmail Alhaji Aliko Dangote and cripple the operations of the Dangote Refinery.
The council, in collaboration with several civil society organizations including the Nigeria Coalition Group (NCG), the Nigeria Youth Coalition (NYC), and the Coalition of Southern Groups (CSG), alleged that the continuous approval of fuel importation licences violated Section 317 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and undermined Nigeria’s local refining capacity.
“It is a total negation of Your Excellency’s Nigeria First policy and a deliberate effort to discourage local investors who have poured billions of dollars into Nigeria’s economy,” the statement read.
According to the council, the Dangote Refinery has already achieved national daily fuel sufficiency with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, projected to rise to 1.4 million barrels per day, describing the project as “the biggest single-train refinery in Africa and a pride to Nigeria.”
The petition further called for a forensic investigation into the activities of Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN/NUPENG, and other labour leaders accused of sabotaging the refinery through industrial actions and media campaigns.
“We demand a full-scale investigation by the NSA, DSS, NIA, NFIU, and the Nigeria Police into the financial dealings and sabotage networks of these individuals and organizations,” the statement continued.
The Yoruba Council condemned the alleged attempt by union leaders and marketers to “resurrect the era of fuel importation fraud” and commended Dangote for his recent investment of ₦2 trillion in new tanker trucks to ensure smooth fuel distribution across the country.
In conclusion, the group announced plans for a “Grand Solidarity Rally” in support of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, by 11 am.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” the statement declared.
