Northern Christian leader urges members to consider Dangote refinery shares

Rev. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Northern Christian Association, has urged Christians in Northern Nigeria to consider investing in the ongoing public offer for shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Hayab made the appeal at a media parley in Kaduna on Saturday while responding to concerns that some Christians might hesitate to invest because of the religious identity of the refinery’s promoter, Aliko Dangote.

He said investment decisions should be based on the nature of the opportunity rather than religion. “Business has no religion,” Hayab said, adding that Dangote was offering shares, not a religious product. The NCA chairman encouraged Christian leaders to educate their members about investment and asset ownership.

He suggested that families could buy shares for children and grandchildren as part of long-term financial planning, including preparations for future education costs. The offer consists of 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at N525 each. The minimum subscription is 10 shares, costing N5,250.

The offer opened on September 14 and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026. Hayab said Nigerians should develop a broader investment culture rather than depend only on salaries and other earned income. He argued that wider domestic ownership of Nigerian businesses would help strengthen the economy and said his appeal extended beyond the Dangote offer to other legitimate investment opportunities.

He disclosed that he had directed NCA members to raise awareness about the offer in churches across the region until the closing date. Hayab also appealed for an extension, saying public awareness was only beginning to grow. He urged investors to separate business from politics and noted that Dangote is from Northern Nigeria.