The National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from executing its planned nationwide strike aimed at shutting down crude and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Ruling on an ex-parte motion, Justice Emmanuel Sublim granted an interim order stopping PENGASSAN and its affiliates from cutting supply lines to the refinery. He warned that any disruption would inflict serious damage on Nigeria’s already fragile economy.
The order also prevents the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from enforcing directives that could halt operations at the refinery.
The case has been adjourned to October 13 for hearing.
Meanwhile, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has assured Nigerians of uninterrupted production and supply of refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas, despite the strike threat.
This reassurance comes amid reports of a planned physical disruption of operations, allegedly involving PENGASSAN members and hired thugs targeting critical units responsible for petrol production.
PENGASSAN had earlier directed its branches across major oil firms such as TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas, and Oando to shut all crude valves supplying the refinery, describing the move as a response to alleged anti-labour actions.
However, Dangote Refinery dismissed the claim as false, branding the directive “an act of sabotage against Nigeria and its people.” The company emphasized that recent internal restructuring was aimed at tackling internal sabotage, not targeting Nigerian employees.
“More than 3,000 Nigerians remain fully employed at the refinery with unrestricted access,” the statement noted, adding that only a small number of staff were affected by the review process.
Sources close to the refinery said heightened security surveillance had been requested, warning that the alleged plot to cripple operations was already at an advanced stage.
“This plan is targeted at preventing the supply of refined petroleum products, especially petrol, and pushing Nigeria back into dependence on fuel importation,” a source noted.
Despite the tensions, the refinery insists that production will continue without interruption.
