Dangote Refinery has condemned the directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to cut gas and crude supplies to the plant, describing it as economic sabotage. In a statement, the refinery said the union’s instruction to its members to disrupt supply follows PENGASSAN’s response to the dismissal of over 800 unionized workers.
The dispute began when Dangote Refinery terminated the employment of hundreds of workers belonging to the union, prompting PENGASSAN to call for a nationwide cut‑off of gas and crude to the 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day facility. The refinery denounced this move as a “criminal and illicit affront” against a national asset and questioned whose interests the union is serving by directing such action.
Dangote Refinery emphasized that the plant is a strategic national asset, the only refinery of its type in Africa, and that any harm to it would constitute a national embarrassment. The company warned that the union’s directive could deter external investors from investing in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The refinery has urged the Federal Government to intervene and call PENGASSAN to order, citing the need to prevent a disruption that could have far‑reaching consequences for Nigerian society and the economy. PENGASSAN had previously vowed to take all necessary action to address what it termed the unjust treatment of Nigerian workers and demanded the reversal of the dismissals, which it considered arbitrary and unfair.
While the union has pressed for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers, Dangote Refinery has remained silent on that issue, focusing instead on the potential repercussions of the union’s supply‑cut directive. The statement underscores the significance of the dispute, which could affect not only the refinery’s operations but also the broader Nigerian economy.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Federal Government will respond to the refinery’s call for intervention and whether a resolution can be reached that addresses the concerns of both parties. The outcome will likely have important implications for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and the country’s reputation as a destination for foreign investment.
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