Nigeria’s oil and gas sector faces fresh turbulence as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members nationwide to withdraw services following the alleged dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery. In a strongly worded circular issued after an emergency NEC meeting on Saturday, September 27, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of violating labour laws and ILO conventions by sacking workers for joining the association.

PENGASSAN claimed the refinery replaced the dismissed staff with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the move as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.” Effective 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, members in field locations were directed to down tools, while a total nationwide shutdown across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies is set to commence from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29. The union further ordered all processes involving crude and gas supply to the refinery to be halted, while branches of international oil companies were instructed to ramp down production linked to the plant.

The circular also announced 24-hour prayer vigils, urging government intervention and warning that the strike would continue until the dismissed workers are reinstated. The Dangote Group, however, defended its actions, saying the sackings were part of an internal reorganisation to improve efficiency and alleging sabotage threats to the refinery’s safety. With the refinery at the centre of Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, industry experts warn that the union’s action could trigger widespread disruptions in downstream operations if the standoff is not resolved swiftly.

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