The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to immediately cease the supply of gas and crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This follows allegations that the refinery’s management has unlawfully terminated employees who are union members.
The directive was issued in a formal letter signed by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa. In the letter, PENGASSAN accused the refinery’s management of dismissing workers as retaliation for exercising their constitutional right to unionise.
The letter reads in part:
“We bring you fraternal greetings from the National Secretariat. As you are aware, the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to being unionised.
“They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong.”
In response, the union has instructed that all gas supplies to the Dangote Refinery via the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) be terminated immediately. Additionally, all crude oil supply valves to the refinery are to be shut, and loading operations for any vessels destined for the facility must be halted without delay.
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The directive explicitly calls on NGIC officials to enforce the gas supply cut-off, with union chairpersons instructed to provide updates on the execution of these actions.
“NGIC Chairman, ensure that gas supply to the Refinery is cut off effective immediately.
“All chairmen on this summon are to report promptly the progress of the directive.
“Kindly accept the assurances of our highest esteem regards. Thank you.
Injury to one, injury to all,” the letter concludes.
The situation represents a significant escalation in tensions between organised labour and the privately owned Dangote Refinery—Africa’s largest oil refining facility. The refinery, which only recently began partial operations, is a major component of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
Efforts to obtain a response from Dangote Group regarding the allegations and the union’s directive have so far been unsuccessful.
Industry observers warn that the move could disrupt refinery operations and have broader implications for the energy sector if the impasse is not resolved promptly.
