Otedola to PENGASSAN: “Go Build Your Own $20 Billion Refinery and Sabotage It as You Please!”

 Otedola to PENGASSAN: “Go Build Your Own $20 Billion Refinery and Sabotage It as You Please!”

— By FMNewsplus Reporter

In a sharp yet witty response that has set the Nigerian energy space abuzz, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has delivered what many are calling a reality check to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). His message was clear, direct, and dripping with satire:

> “If you’re so concerned, go build your own $20 billion refinery and sabotage it as you please.”

Otedola’s remark comes amid growing noise from PENGASSAN over alleged irregularities and “concerns” about operations at the Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train petroleum refinery and one of the most ambitious industrial projects on the continent.

A Reality Check from the Boardroom

According to Otedola, the outcry from PENGASSAN is nothing more than an overreach — an attempt by a union with no tangible investment in the oil downstream sector to meddle in a privately owned, multi-billion-dollar venture built on years of vision, sacrifice, and risk-taking.

“Let’s be frank,” he implied. “Aliko Dangote didn’t build that refinery by chanting union slogans or organizing protests. He built it through sleepless nights, calculated risks, and an unyielding drive to industrialize Nigeria.”

The Dangote Refinery, which has the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, stands as a symbol of African resilience and ingenuity — a project privately funded without the aid of government subvention or foreign charity.

Union Politics vs. Private Enterprise

Industry watchers say Otedola’s reaction underscores a broader issue — the growing interference of labor unions in private-sector operations under the guise of “monitoring national interest.”

While unions like PENGASSAN play a legitimate role in protecting workers’ rights, Otedola maintained that their jurisdiction does not extend to private investments such as the Dangote Refinery. Matters of compliance, safety, or policy, he noted, fall within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other relevant government agencies — not unions seeking political relevance.

“The refinery is a private business, not a public utility. If you have issues, take them to the proper authorities — not the front pages of newspapers,” one industry insider told FMNewsplus.

The Message: If You Can’t Build It, Don’t Break It

Otedola’s statement has since sparked mixed reactions across social media. Some hailed him for defending private enterprise against needless interference, while others called for dialogue between industrial unions and business leaders.

But one thing remains clear — his words cut deep.

In a nation where private investment is often stifled by bureaucracy, politics, and envy, Otedola’s blunt reminder carries weight:

> “If you can’t build it, don’t break it.”

As the debate rages on, one undeniable truth stands tall — the Dangote Refinery represents a monumental stride in Africa’s march toward self-sufficiency in energy production. And as Otedola rightly pointed out, those who have not walked the path of billion-dollar sacrifice have little moral ground to dictate how such vision should be managed.

FMNewsplus will continue to monitor developments as Nigeria’s industrial and labor communities navigate this heated conversation on investment, accountability, and national growth.