The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria’s (PENGASSAN) directive to halt crude oil and gas supplies to its facility, describing the move as “illegal, lawless, and an act of economic sabotage.”
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, the refinery argued that the union has no legal authority to interfere in contracts signed with third-party suppliers, warning that disruption of supplies could cripple the production of essential fuels such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas, and aviation fuel. “This is a brazen, shocking display of lawlessness and criminality… PENGASSAN has no right whatsoever to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies,” the statement read.
The refinery further urged the federal government and security agencies to intervene, insisting that PENGASSAN’s directive threatens national stability and could inflict “irreparable hardship” on millions of Nigerians who rely on petroleum products. “The association is not above the law, and it must not be allowed to behave as if it is,” it warned.
The face-off follows the refinery’s recent dismissal of several Nigerian workers over what it called “repeated acts of sabotage.” Management explained the terminations, effective September 25, were necessary to safeguard operations and ensure long-term stability. But PENGASSAN swiftly condemned the move, alleging discrimination against Nigerian staff in favor of expatriates, and warning that unless the refinery recalls the sacked workers, the union would be forced to invoke all legal options under the Nigerian Constitution and Labour Act.
The standoff deepens tensions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector at a time when the country is grappling with rising energy costs, supply bottlenecks, and debates over labor rights. Analysts warned that if the standoff persists, it could further strain Nigeria’s fragile energy supply chain, deepen public hardship, and test the government’s ability to balance corporate interests with workers’ rights.
The Punch
