PENGASSAN Cuts Gas, Oil Supply To Dangote Refinery Over Mass Sack

By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE

THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered an immediate halt to gas supply and crude oil deliveries to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing the company of unlawfully sacking 800 unionised workers.

In a directive signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union instructed members, particularly in the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), to shut supply valves and suspend vessel loading operations bound for the refinery.

Dangote Refinery denied allegations of union victimisation, stating the restructuring was necessary to protect the facility from sabotage and reaffirming that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed. The company also rejected claims that it replaced sacked workers with over 2,000 Indian nationals.

PENGASSAN, however, insists the dismissals were retaliatory, vowing: “Injury to one, injury to all.”