The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has enforced a nationwide strike, resulting in the shutdown of major oil and gas regulatory bodies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The strike, which commenced on September 28, 2025, is in protest against the alleged unlawful dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote Refinery management, accused of violating labor laws by replacing dismissed Nigerian staff with foreign employees.
PENGASSAN members barricaded the entrances of these agencies, effectively halting gas and crude oil supply to Dangote’s refinery as part of their industrial action. The union’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, stated that members across all operational locations withdrew services and ceased all activities from early Sunday.
In response, the Federal Government intervened by initiating a truce meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, aimed at resolving the dispute peacefully and ensuring continuity in the petroleum sector. However, mediation talks initially ended in a deadlock, with both parties holding firm on their positions.
The strike is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s oil production and refining capacity if prolonged, although PENGASSAN has stated the strike is specifically targeted at Dangote Refinery and does not currently affect general fuel distribution.
A National Industrial Court order temporarily barred PENGASSAN from proceeding with the strike, directing continued crude supply to the refinery, but the union defied the ruling amid ongoing tensions.
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