…As strike cripples NNPC Ltd, NUPRC, NMDPRA
By Olakunle Oke
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has slammed the brakes on PENGASSAN’s audacious bid to shut down the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, warning that the union’s strike threat could wreck Nigeria’s already fragile economy.
In an interim ruling on Monday, Justice Emmanuel Sublim barred the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and its affiliates from cutting crude oil and gas supplies to the $20 billion refinery.
He further restrained the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) from enforcing any directive issued by the union. The case was adjourned to October 13 for further hearing.
The ruling came after PENGASSAN ordered its members in oil majors including TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas and Oando to choke off crude supplies and halt loading operations for vessels linked to the refinery.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was thrown into chaos yesterday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) initiated a strike, grounding key national agencies and cutting off critical supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The nationwide action is a bitter showdown over the alleged illegal dismissal of over 800 workers by the refinery.
The strike, which took effect at 00:01 on Monday, immediately crippled operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Union members across the country fully complied with the directive, withdrawing from critical field and control room duties.
In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN ordered the immediate suspension of crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Union accused the company of breaching Nigerian labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions by sacking workers for joining the union.
“All PENGASSAN members across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday, September 29, 2025,” the circular read, adding the specific instruction: “All processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be cut off immediately.”
The standoff has grounded the core of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure: NNPCL remains the sole importer of petrol, NMDPRA oversees supply and distribution, while NUPRC enforces crude and gas production obligations all now effectively grounded by the strike.
Oil marketers have already warned of imminent disruptions to fuel distribution, which, coupled with the previous threat of power plant shutdowns, heightens concerns of nationwide scarcity and power shortages.
In the motion it filed through a team of lawyers led by Mr. Ogwu Onoja, SAN, Dangote Refinery applied for order of interim injunction to restrain the 1st defendant, its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns or whatsoever and howsoever called, from calling or directing the halt of crude and gas supply to the claimant, under any guise, and or embarking on any industrial action against the claimant with a view to crippling, blocking roads or obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the claimant or licensees of the 2nd to 4th defendants named in the 1st defendant’s directives dated September 26, 2025 or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the claimant/Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on notice.
The litigant equally sought an order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd – 4th defendants, their employees, members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, licensees, assigns or whatsoever and howsoever called, from giving effect to the directives of the 1st defendant to halt the supply of crude and gas to the claimant or joining, continuing, embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action of the 1st defendant and its affiliates and cronies, or any other strike whatsoever, against the claimant/Applicant, with a view to frustrating her businesses and operations, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
Dangote Refinery told the court that it is a petroleum production and or distribution company licensed to own, operate and produce petroleum and petrochemical products for the general consumption of the Nigerian public, and whose business provides essential services to the Nigerian economy and the general public.
It averred that recently, there have been incidents of sabotage by some of employees at its plant, which brought up issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim granted an order restraining the ongoing strike, holding that the balance of convenience favoured the Applicant.
The Judge emphasized that the continuation of the industrial action would cause irreparable damage to the Applicant’s business operations and severely cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.
Justice Subilim further determined that it was in the overriding interest of justice to restrain the defendants. This action was necessary to preserve industrial peace and ensure the continuous supply of vital public services, pending the final determination of the substantive suit before the court.
Consequently, the court ordered that the restraining order and the motion on notice be immediately served on the defendants.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery also warned that the strike directly threatens the supply of essential products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas, and aviation fuel, which are vital for national services, including hospitals, schools, and transportation.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery strongly rejects the claims by PENGASSAN and views this strike action as an act of economic sabotage. The oligarchs in PENGASSAN have proved themselves to be terrorists and have turned the Association into a bully organisation. It is time they were called to order.”
“This reckless action, which includes the illegal suspension of gas and crude supply, is designed to cripple a critical national asset and compromise the nation’s energy security for narrow, selfish interests. We warn that this strike threatens the stability of fuel supply, endangering essential services, including hospitals, emergency services, and transportation across the country.”
“The company vehemently denies all allegations regarding the illegal dismissal of workers and the replacement of Nigerians with foreigners, insisting that over 3,000 Nigerians remain in its workforce. We operate strictly within the bounds of Nigerian labour law and will not be intimidated by what amounts to industrial anarchy.” The statement read.