President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cautioned oil workers against engaging in industrial actions that could cripple the nation’s economy, urging them to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than confrontation.

Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) meeting in Abuja, the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, condemned last month’s strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) during its dispute with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals (DRP).

“We cannot hold the whole nation to ransom because of issues that we can amicably settle across the table,” the President said, describing the union’s action which included disconnecting gas supply to the refinery and limiting crude pumping to export terminals as economic sabotage.

President Tinubu called for patriotism, restraint, and sensitivity to national security in the course of industrial agitations. He emphasised that the 20 billion dollar privately owned Dangote Refinery is a national asset that should be protected, promoted, and preserved in the collective interest of Nigerians.

Also speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, recounted the significant economic losses suffered during the strike period. The disruption, he noted, triggered a scarcity of cooking gas across Lagos, where residents faced long queues and inflated prices over the weekend.