Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has urged Christians in Northern Nigeria to consider the ongoing Dangote Petroleum Refinery Initial Public Offering, saying religious identity should not determine investment decisions.
Hayab made the call at a media parley in Kaduna on Saturday while responding to concerns over whether some northern Christians might hesitate to invest because the refinery is promoted by Aliko Dangote.
“Business has no religion. What Dangote is selling is not Islam; Dangote is selling shares. Shares bring money,” Hayab said.
He urged Christian leaders to educate their members about investment and encourage families to consider legitimate opportunities for building long-term assets.
“If I have my way, just as they are advertising, every Christian should have 10 shares,” he said.
Hayab also suggested that parents could consider investing on behalf of their children and grandchildren as part of long-term financial planning.
“Buy it for your son. Buy it for your grandchildren. Buy it for the future of their education,” he said.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE public offer comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at ₦525 each, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares costing ₦5,250.
The offer opened on September 14 and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026. It is open to retail, institutional and eligible African investors.
Hayab said his appeal extended beyond the Dangote offer, arguing that Nigerians should develop a stronger culture of investment instead of depending exclusively on salaries and other earned income.
“The economy of Nigeria will grow faster if all Nigerians have a stake in the investment that is in Nigeria,” he said.
He disclosed that the NCA had begun creating awareness about the offer among members through churches and intended to continue the campaign until the closing date.
Hayab also appealed for an extension of the offer period, saying awareness was only beginning to gather momentum.
His comments come as the Dangote refinery IPO attracts substantial retail interest, with demand reportedly putting pressure on some Nigerian digital investment platforms shortly after the offer opened.
The IPO has been presented as an opportunity to broaden Nigerian participation in ownership of one of the country’s largest industrial projects.
However, buying shares carries investment risk. The official IPO information states that share values can rise or fall and that investors could lose some or all of their investment.
Prospective investors have also been advised to read the prospectus and use only approved receiving agents and subscription channels.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has warned against fraudulent platforms, unsolicited messages and offers promising guaranteed allotments.
Hayab said political and religious considerations should be separated from legitimate business decisions, noting that governments could change while businesses could continue operating.
“Today we have Tinubu as president, tomorrow we’ll have another person as president, but we will be having Dangote business all through,” he said.
The NCA chairman also encouraged northern Christians to support legitimate businesses established by entrepreneurs from the region, noting that Dangote is from Northern Nigeria.
