Court stops oil union strike against Dangote refinery

Nigeria’s National Industrial Court has stepped in to halt a planned nationwide strike by the country’s powerful oil union, PENGASSAN, blocking an effort to choke crude and gas supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Justice Emmanuel Sublim issued an interim injunction on Monday barring the union and its allies from carrying out the stoppage. He warned that shutting down the multibillion-dollar plant would inflict significant damage on the country’s fragile economy. The case is slated to return for hearing on October 13.

The court also restrained state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and two key regulators—the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)—from enforcing any directive that could disrupt crude flows to the refinery.

Dangote pledges steady fuel supply despite union threat

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is still ramping up operations to become Africa’s largest single-train refinery, sought to reassure Nigerians of stable supply of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and cooking gas.

The statement came after reports emerged of an alleged plot to physically attack critical units of the plant, particularly those involved in petrol production. Intelligence sources cited by the company said the plan involved both union members and hired thugs.

“Despite these threats, we remain committed to uninterrupted production and supply of petroleum products to the Nigerian people and businesses,” a company representative said.

Dispute over layoffs sparks union backlash

The conflict escalated after PENGASSAN, over the weekend, directed its branches in major oil firms—including TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas and Oando—to cut crude deliveries to the Dangote facility. The union accused the refinery of anti-labour practices following a recent internal reorganization.

“All crude oil supply valves to the refinery should be shut. Loading operations for any vessel headed to the refinery should be halted immediately,” the union declared.

Dangote rejected the allegations as “lawless acts and sabotage against Nigeria and its people,” insisting the restructuring targeted persistent acts of internal sabotage and affected only a “very small number” of staff. The company said more than 3,000 Nigerians remain fully employed at the refinery and continue to have unrestricted access to the plant.

Security tightened as refinery cites sabotage threat

Amid mounting tensions, the refinery has requested increased security and surveillance. According to sources familiar with the situation, intelligence suggests the alleged sabotage plan is at an advanced stage.

“We are calling on security agencies to be on alert as this plan is targeted at crippling the operations of the refinery and preventing the supply of refined petroleum products, especially petrol,” one source said.

The company alleged that the strike and planned disruption were part of a wider push by vested interests to stall Nigeria’s progress toward self-sufficiency in fuel production and keep the country reliant on imports.

“Despite the sabotaging acts of PENGASSAN and its allies, Dangote Refinery is determined to continue with uninterrupted production and supply of petroleum products,” the company said.