PENGASSAN Halts Crude, Gas Supply to Dangote Refinery Over Workers’ Sack

An ongoing industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery escalated sharply on Saturday, as the union ordered an immediate suspension of crude oil and gas supply to the $20 billion refinery.

In a letter dated September 26, PENGASSAN accused Dangote management of sacking unionized workers in retaliation for exercising their constitutional right to join the union. The union labeled the move as anti-labour and unlawful.

As a result, PENGASSAN directed its branches in major oil companies including TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), and Renaissance to halt all crude and gas supplies to the refinery. They also ordered the shutdown of supply valves and the suspension of vessel loading operations headed to the plant.

The union also accused the refinery of discriminatory practices, alleging that local workers were denied access to the site while expatriates were allowed in, and staff buses were withdrawn following the unionization drive.

PENGASSAN warned that further action, including picketing, could follow if the issue remains unresolved.

In response, Dangote Refinery denied claims of mass layoffs, stating that only a few workers were affected by what it described as an internal reorganization aimed at preventing sabotage. It insisted that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the facility.

The refinery described the union’s actions as based on misinformation and urged constructive dialogue instead.

Meanwhile, the company announced it would suspend naira-based petrol sales from September 28 after exhausting its crude-for-naira allocation.