The National Industrial Court in Abuja has granted an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, in a ruling on Monday, barred the defendants from halting crude oil and gas supply to the refinery. Listed as defendants in the suit are the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The order followed an ex parte application filed by the refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim, who argued that the threatened strike and disruption of crude oil supply would cripple operations at the $20 billion plant, which plays a critical role in addressing Nigeria’s energy needs.

Ibrahim told the court that the refinery had only recently disengaged a small number of staff as part of a reorganisation exercise triggered by sabotage and safety concerns. He dismissed reports that over 800 workers were sacked for joining a union, stressing that the company recognised unionisation as a constitutional right.

Despite these clarifications, Ibrahim said PENGASSAN directed its members across NNPCL, NMDPRA, and NUPRC licensees to halt crude oil and gas supply to the refinery unless the dismissed workers were reinstated.

In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience was in favour of the Applicant, noting that allowing the strike to proceed would irreparably harm the refinery’s operations and the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The court granted the restraining order for seven days, pending the hearing of the motion on notice. The case was adjourned to October 13, 2025.