By Professor Ishaq Akintola

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that Dangote Refinery deserves accolades for enabling Nigerians to enjoy a fuel crisis-free Yuletide.

‎‎The observation was made in a press statement issued on Friday, 9th January, 2026 by the Executive Director of the human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.‎

‎The full statement reads:‎

“Nigerians heaved sighs of relief during the past two weeks from the 2025 Christmas period through the first week of the New year 2026 as the period flew past without a single sign of fuel crisis.‎

‎”Christmas was celebrated with pomp and pageantry. People travelled to their various destinations around the country without nursing any fear of non-availability of fuel. Fuel stations sold their various products seamlessly throughout the season and car owners experienced no glitches. ‎

‎”Looking back, we can see long queues in the days of yore. We slept at the petrol stations for days. We bought black market fuel at more than triple its normal price. We endangered lives by storing fuel in car boots and home stores. Some trips were called off for lack of fuel. Meanwhile transport fares skyrocketed while the prices of foodstuffs hit the ceilings over fuel scarcity in those days.

“Thank God it is all over. May we never experience that horrendous spectacle again.‎ This is why Dangote Refinery deserves our accolades. The difference is clear. But we should ponder about continuity. ‎

“Apart from pouring encomiums on the refinery and the brain behind it, government should give the refinery enduring oxygen in terms of protection and creating an enabling business environment for it.”

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)