PENGASSAN Directs Members to Cut Gas Supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery Over Labour Dispute

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has taken a bold move to escalate a dispute over the disengagement of unionized workers from the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery. In a letter signed by Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, General Secretary of PENGASSAN, the union has accused the refinery's management of violating workers' constitutional right to freedom of association. As a result, PENGASSAN has instructed its branches in gas-producing and supplying companies to halt the supply of gas to the refinery, potentially disrupting the operations of Africa's largest oil refinery.

Key Takeaways:

• PENGASSAN has directed its members to cut off gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over a dispute over the disengagement of unionized workers.
• The refinery's management is accused of violating workers' constitutional right to freedom of association.
• The union has instructed its branches in gas-producing and supplying companies, including TotalEnergies, Seplat, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, and Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), to halt gas supply immediately.
• NGIC has been specifically mandated to ensure the cut-off is enforced without delay.
• All branch chairmen have been asked to promptly report on the progress of the directive.
• The latest action by PENGASSAN threatens to disrupt the operations of the refinery, which has a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Statistics:

• The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is valued at $20 billion.
• The refinery has a capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
• The facility is expected to reduce Nigeria's heavy dependence on fuel imports and stabilize domestic supply.

Sources:

• Letter dated September 26, 2025, signed by Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, General Secretary of PENGASSAN.