Court Stops PENGASSAN from Halting Gas, Crude Supply to Dangote Refinery

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from carrying out its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

Justice Emmanuel Subilim, in a ruling delivered on Monday, granted the interim order after an ex-parte application was filed by Dangote Refinery.

Other respondents in the case include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

The court specifically barred the defendants from cutting crude oil and gas supply to the refinery.

Through its counsel, Mr. Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote Refinery sought interim relief to prevent PENGASSAN, its members, agents, or representatives from halting crude and gas supply, blocking operations, or embarking on any form of industrial action capable of crippling the refinery.

The company argued that its operations provide essential services to Nigeria’s economy and the public. It said recent acts of sabotage at the plant had raised safety concerns, leading to a reorganisation that resulted in the dismissal of some staff, which was communicated via a memo dated September 25, 2025.

Dangote Refinery refuted allegations that the layoffs were linked to union membership, insisting only a small number of employees were affected. With a workforce of over 3,000 Nigerians, the company said the reorganisation was strictly due to safety and operational concerns.

It told the court that PENGASSAN, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Okugbawa, had threatened in a September 26 letter to the Minister of Petroleum and Gas to shut down its operations unless the dismissed workers — alleged to number over 800 — were reinstated.

“The 1st Defendant became more provoked and directed its Executives and Members in the licensees of the 2nd–4th Defendants through whom the Claimant accesses crude and gas for its plant to stop supplying gas to the Claimant,” the company stated.

It further warned that allowing the threat to be carried out would cripple the $20 billion facility, plunge Nigeria into an energy crisis, and harm the livelihoods of millions of citizens.

In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that “the balance of convenience was in favour of the Applicant” since any disruption could irreparably damage the refinery’s operations and essential service delivery.

He ordered the defendants to be served with the interim injunction and adjourned the matter to October 13 for hearing, noting that the restraining order would last for seven days.

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