The standoff between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has escalated, as the union directed its members to suspend crude oil and gas supplies to the $20 billion facility.
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In a memo issued by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, PENGASSAN instructed branches in leading oil and gas firms to halt crude supply valves, suspend loading operations for vessels, and discontinue gas deliveries with immediate effect.
The directive affects major operators such as TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company.
PENGASSAN accuses the refinery of unfair labour practices, claiming workers were dismissed for attempting to join the union. The association criticized the refinery’s management for “spreading misinformation” rather than addressing the grievances through dialogue.
Dangote Refinery, however, maintains that its ongoing restructuring is aimed at safeguarding operations and preventing sabotage. The company insists that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain employed despite the internal changes.
The clash traces back to the termination of Nigerian staff, which the union believes was a retaliatory move against unionization efforts. PENGASSAN reaffirmed its support for the affected workers, concluding its directive with the slogan: “Injury to one, injury to all.”
