Prioritising the Nigerians Above All – Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo

By Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)

Fellow Nigerians,

It has become increasingly unbearable to watch the continuous hardship and suffering that ordinary citizens are subjected to in our beloved nation. Our people are enduring untold pains, skyrocketing food prices, unaffordable fuel, joblessness, and a cost-of-living crisis that has pushed millions below the poverty line. Yet, while the masses suffer, a few individuals and institutions continue to profit shamelessly from our collective misery.

One cannot overlook the monopoly and manipulative influence of Aliko Dangote, as well as the questionable silence of PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria), in the face of the ongoing crisis in the energy sector. Dangote’s refinery, which was hailed as a national blessing, now appears to be a tool of economic control, a means to dictate prices, manipulate markets, and suppress competition. Nigeria, with all its resources and refineries, should not be held hostage by one man or one company.

Equally disappointing is the role of PENGASSAN, an organisation that was once a defender of workers’ rights and a voice for fairness. Today, they appear complacent, watching as oil marketers, importers, and refinery operators exploit Nigerians without mercy. Their silence and inaction make them complicit in the current hardship that has crippled our economy.

We must speak truth to power: Nigeria’s economy cannot be controlled by a few elites while the majority wallow in suffering. It is time for both the government and stakeholders to take decisive action:

1. Break all monopolies in the energy sector: open the market to competition, encourage modular refineries, and empower local investors.

2. Enforce transparency and fairness: The government must regulate prices responsibly, ensuring Nigerians are not exploited under the guise of deregulation.

3. Hold PENGASSAN accountable: The union must return to its original mission of defending workers and the nation’s interests, not serving corporate or political masters.

4. Prioritise local production and empowerment: Support farmers, small businesses, and the youth with grants, not loans that keep them in debt.

5. Government intervention now, not later: Nigeria needs immediate policy reforms to reduce fuel prices, stabilise the naira, and create jobs.

The time has come for every patriotic Nigerian to rise above silence and complacency. We cannot continue to be spectators while a handful of individuals dictate our future. Our nation belongs to all of us, not to Dangote, not to PENGASSAN, and not to any corrupt system that enriches a few at the expense of millions.

Let us demand accountability, fairness, and a new economic direction that prioritises people over profit. The suffering must end, and it must end now.

Voice of the People• Advocate for Empowerment• Hope for a New Nigeria