MURIC protests in Lagos, asking government to support Dangote Refinery and reduce fuel problems.

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos in support of the Dangote Refinery, urging the government to impose a 15% tariff on imported fuel.

The Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, members of the group marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly carrying cards with various inscriptions. They said the move was to show solidarity with the refinery and to call for protection of Nigeria’s economic interests.

Presenting his address to lawmakers representing Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, Akintola said the Dangote Refinery had become a key national concern, describing it as a “saving grace” for the country’s economy that must be protected.

He stated that, “As a human rights group conscious of its social responsibility, MURIC deems it necessary to stand by the new refinery in the interest of Nigeria,. Our rally is peaceful, and our members are law-abiding and peace-loving Muslims.”

He noted that Nigerians had suffered fuel-related hardships for decades, from long queues and black-market prices to frequent shortages caused by the failure of government-owned refineries.

“While the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna have suffered from what I call kwashiorkor, epilepsy and sleeping beauty syndrome, Nigerians have endured years of self-inflicted pain from fuel crises,” Akintola added.

MURIC which stands for Muslim Rights Concern, is a Nigerian non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the rights of Muslims and advocating against religious discrimination. Founded in 1997, it seeks to promote justice, dialogue, and peace through public statements, press releases, and advocacy, drawing attention to cases where Muslims are perceived to be marginalized or persecuted. Its motto, “Dialogue, Not Violence,” reflects its commitment to peaceful means of addressing grievances.