By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Court Stops PENGASSAN, NNPCL, Others From Cutting Supply To Dangote Refinery
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has stopped the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and two other regulators from halting crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim gave the interim order after listening to an ex parte application filed by Dangote Refinery.
The ruling also covers the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Counsel to the refinery, George Ibrahim (SAN), told the court that Dangote Refinery provides essential petroleum products to the Nigerian economy, and any disruption of supply would damage operations and affect the public.
He explained that management recently reorganised the plant after some staff engaged in acts of sabotage, creating health and safety risks.
A few workers were dismissed as part of the restructuring, but he stressed that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain employed.
The lawyer added that reports claiming over 800 workers were sacked for joining PENGASSAN were misleading.
He said the company supports the constitutional right of its workers to unionise, but the recent staff disengagement was strictly due to safety concerns.
The refinery also alleged that PENGASSAN, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, wrote to the Minister of Petroleum threatening nationwide action if the dismissed staff were not recalled.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that allowing the planned strike or supply disruption would cause irreparable harm to the refinery and cripple essential services to Nigerians.
He therefore granted an interim order restraining the defendants from cutting crude and gas supply for seven days, pending the hearing of a motion on notice. The case was adjourned to October 13, 2025.
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