A group of prominent Nigerians, led by Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has stepped in to mediate the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The crisis has triggered a scarcity of cooking gas and a rise in its price, which the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, attributes to the industrial action.
In a joint statement, the group stressed the importance of respecting workers’ rights to join unions of their choice while warning that disruptive industrial actions could damage the economy. They highlighted that the Dangote Refinery represents a major investment in Nigeria’s economic future, with the potential to ease supply pressures and lower transport costs. The refinery has already begun to make a positive impact, evidenced by petrol prices falling by up to 55 % in some areas.
However, the signatories cautioned that poorly managed industrial disputes could deter both domestic and foreign investment, which is essential for Nigeria’s growth. They called for a balance between protecting workers’ rights and safeguarding markets and productivity. Among the other signatories were educationist Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, human‑rights activist Aisha Yesufu, economist Arunma Oteh, and investment banker Atedo Peterside.
The group praised the Federal Government and the Dangote Refinery for resolving the dispute through dialogue and urged that this approach become a template for future engagements. Ojulari estimated that the strike cost Nigeria 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil production, underscoring the crisis’s significant economic implications. The statement concluded that the dispute is not merely about the refinery but about the direction of Nigeria’s economy, its ability to attract investment, and its capacity to promote productivity. By settling the matter through dialogue, the parties have taken a crucial step toward a more stable and prosperous economic future for Nigeria.
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