You Can’t Starve Us Of Crude!” – Dangote Refinery Hits Back At PENGASSAN’s Shutdown Order

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) recently instructed its members in seven oil and gas companies to suspend all crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Refinery.

The refinery, however, condemned the directive, branding it “criminal, unlawful, and an act of economic sabotage.”

At the core of the dispute is the dismissal of 800 workers, which PENGASSAN claims was in retaliation for their decision to exercise their constitutional right to join the union. The association disclosed that an emergency National Executive Council meeting would soon be convened to determine further action.

Union officials told Punch that discussions were ongoing about the possibility of a nationwide strike if Dangote fails to reinstate the sacked workers and address the alleged injustices.

“This is bigger than Dangote,” a senior union source stated. “If we don’t act, this will set a dangerous precedent.”

In its response on Saturday, Dangote Refinery accused the union of deliberately seeking to deprive Nigerians of access to critical petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and cooking gas.

The company maintained that PENGASSAN had no legal authority to order such disruptions, noting that supply contracts were signed with third-party vendors, not with the union. Dangote further stressed that tampering with these agreements amounts to a criminal act.

“Nigeria is governed by laws, not mob action,” the refinery declared. “PENGASSAN’s actions risk plunging the country into unnecessary hardship, chaos, and potential anarchy.”