Onome Amuge
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members across major oil and gas companies to suspend crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, escalating tensions in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The directive, contained in a memo signed by Lumumba Okugbawa, the PENGASSAN general secretary,followed last Thursday’s alleged disengagement of about 800 workers by the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
“The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members across key oil and gas companies to halt supply of crude oil and gas to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery,” the union stated in the memo addressed to branch chairmen in TotalEnergies, Chevron, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, Seplat Producing Nigeria Unlimited, and Renaissance.
Okugbawa accused the refinery of targeting unionised staff and undermining their constitutional rights. “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 unionized,” the letter read.
The union described the refinery’s response as a mission of misinformation and propaganda, instead of addressing grievances through dialogue. As a result, members were instructed to shut all crude oil supply valves to the facility and halt vessel loading operations.
“NGIC chairman, ensure that gas supply to the refinery is cut off effective immediately. All chairmen on this summon are to report promptly the progress of the directive,” Okugbawa added.
The refinery, for its part, has defended the layoffs, describing them as part of an ongoing reorganisation aimed at protecting operations from sabotage and addressing safety concerns.
The standoff threatens to disrupt activities at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which has been seen as central to Nigeria’s quest for energy self-sufficiency. Industry analysts warn that prolonged supply disruptions could delay production timelines and heighten uncertainty in the downstream sector.
PENGASSAN closed its memo with a rallying call to members: “Injury to one! Injury to all!!”
The souls of our ancestors will now rest in peace!