Oil Sector Paralysed, Fuel Scarcity Looms As PENGASSAN Begins Nationwide Strike
Nigeria’s oil and gas industry was thrown into turmoil on Monday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) commenced a nationwide strike, shutting down operations at critical regulatory agencies and halting crude and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The industrial action followed a directive issued by the union’s National Executive Council over the weekend, citing the alleged wrongful dismissal of about 800 workers at the refinery.
PENGASSAN accused the company of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking employees for joining the union and replacing them with foreigners.
It was learnt that the headquarters of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Abuja was locked down on Monday morning, with employees stranded outside the gate.
Security operatives on duty confirmed that no staff were allowed entry in line with the strike directive.
Similarly, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was completely shut, with operations paralysed in the Central Business District. At the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), union leaders enforced full compliance with the strike order.
Confirming the development, the PENGASSAN Chairman in NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, told The PUNCH that the strike had recorded “100 per cent compliance.” He added that the same level of enforcement had been achieved at NNPCL and NUPRC.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the union declared in a resolution signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.
It further directed International Oil Companies (IOCs) to ramp down gas production and stop supplies to Dangote Refinery and petrochemical plants.
The action has sent shockwaves through the energy sector, with oil marketers warning of imminent fuel scarcity and blackouts. NNPCL remains Nigeria’s sole importer of petrol, while NUPRC and NMDPRA play central roles in crude monitoring, gas supply obligations, and product distribution across the country.
PENGASSAN also instructed its members in field locations nationwide to down tools from Sunday, September 28, while commencing a round-the-clock prayer vigil in solidarity with the sacked workers.
The union vowed to sustain the strike until its demands are met.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns that the disruption could severely impact domestic fuel availability.
With crude and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery cut off and regulatory agencies grounded, the pressure on NNPCL’s import-driven supply chain is expected to escalate.
The strike has heightened public fears of fresh queues at filling stations, with oil marketers warning that rising demand amid restricted supply could push pump prices upward.
In response, the Minister of Labour has convened an emergency meeting with union leaders and stakeholders scheduled for later on Monday.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
