Dangote Refinery Faces Crude, Gas Supply Halt as PENGASSAN Orders Shutdown

Following the dismissal of more than 800 employees who joined the union, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to immediately stop supplying gas and crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Lumumba Okugbawa, the union’s general secretary, signed a directive on Saturday stating that the refinery’s “illegitimate and provocative action” against its members prompted the shutdown.

Addressed to branch chairmen nationwide, the letter urged members to take firm action against the facility that produces 650,000 barrels per day.

“As you are aware, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery management has disengaged our members in response to the exercise of their constitutional right to be unionized,” the union said.

Instead of interacting with us in a meaningful way to make amends, they have gone farther on a mission of disinformation and propaganda to defend this illegitimacy.

As a result of these, you are instructed to immediately turn off NGIC’s gas supply. All of the refinery’s crude oil supply valves ought to be closed. The loading process for the ship that is going there needs to end right away.

The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) branch was particularly instructed by Okugbawa to make sure that the refinery’s gas supply was immediately cut off, and all branch chairmen were instructed to report compliance progress as soon as possible.

“Injury to one, injury to all,” the letter continued.

Less than twenty-four hours have passed since Dangote Refinery acknowledged that it had fired a few employees for alleged sabotage, but denied that the action was related to unionization.

However, PENGASSAN maintains that more than 800 Nigerian workers were singled out soon after they willingly joined the organization, accusing management of unfair labor practices and union-busting.