Abuja: The Nigerian government has assured industries that it will continue to protect them as they do business in the country. President Bola Tinubu disclosed this at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Nigerian leader said the current administration will sustain industrial harmony in the interest of the nation.
According to Voice of Nigeria, speaking with particular reference to the current impasse between the organised labour and a private company, Dangote Refinery, the President warned that no organisation or individual is greater than Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of addressing the labour dispute without holding the nation hostage, highlighting the need for the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to take a proactive role in resolving the matter.
The President underscored the significance of supporting Aliko Dangote, describing him as an institution within Nigeria’s economic landscape. He stressed that Dangote’s investments in the country should be protected and promoted for future generations, given the substantial contributions they make to the economy. Tinubu noted that the Dangote Refinery, funded through a mix of equity investments, debt finance, and loans, needs to operate effectively to service its debts, and the nation should not be held back by resolvable issues.
The President called on both labour unions and the organised private sector to demonstrate greater patriotism and work towards an amicable resolution of the dispute concerning the Dangote refinery. He urged for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industries, ensuring the continued improvement of Nigeria’s economic fortunes.