PENGASSAN Orders Members To Cut Off Gas, Crude Supply To Dangote Refinery Over Sack Of Workers
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to halt gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, escalating the ongoing dispute between the union and refinery management.
The directive followed the alleged disengagement of over 800 Nigerian workers who recently unionised at the facility.
In a memo signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, and circulated to branch chairmen of TotalEnergies E&P, Seplat Producing Nigeria, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, and NGIC, the union instructed immediate shutdown of crude oil supply valves, suspension of vessel loading operations, and disconnection of gas supply to the refinery.
The statement accused the refinery management of “illegitimate” actions and of engaging in “misinformation and propaganda” instead of addressing labour concerns.
“As you are aware, the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to being unionised.
They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong.
Consequent to these, you are hereby directed to cut off gas supply to NGIC effective immediately. All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut, and the loading operation for vessels headed there should be halted,” the memo read in part.
The move comes amid deepening tensions between labour unions and the refinery, following allegations that the company had replaced sacked Nigerian workers with over 2,000 expatriates from India a claim the management has strongly denied, insisting that only a few staff were affected in a reorganisation exercise.
Meanwhile, the development coincides with a fresh challenge for the refinery, as it suspended the sale of petrol in naira, citing the exhaustion of its crude-for-naira allocation. The suspension, which takes effect on Sunday, September 28, 2025, will affect naira-based transactions, with customers advised to apply for refunds.
In an official notice, Dangote Petroleum Refinery explained:
“We have been selling petroleum products in excess of our Naira-Crude allocations and, consequently, we are unable to sustain PMS sales in naira going forward. Kindly note that this suspension will be effective from Sunday, 28th of September, 2025. Customers who would like a refund of their current payments should formally request the processing of their refund.”
The twin crisis labour unrest and the suspension of naira transactions have raised concerns about potential disruptions in fuel supply, pricing, and Nigeria’s broader energy sector stability.
