NIGERIA’s oil and gas sector 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 key regulatory institutions including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
News Point Nigeria reports that the strike, which followed a weekend directive by the union’s National Executive Council, was sparked by the alleged wrongful dismissal of 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
PENGASSAN accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and ILO conventions by sacking unionized staff and replacing them with foreigners.
At the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, the main gate was locked, leaving stranded workers and visitors outside. Similar scenes played out at NMDPRA’s Central Business District offices, where business activities were completely paralysed.
“We achieved 100 per cent compliance with the strike order,” said Tony Iziogba, PENGASSAN Chairman at NMDPRA, noting that enforcement had also extended to NNPC and other critical agencies.
The union further directed its members in international oil companies (IOCs) and gas facilities to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Refinery.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” read a resolution signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.
The decision has heightened concerns of imminent fuel scarcity and power outages, given NNPC’s role as the sole importer of petrol and NUPRC’s mandate to oversee crude and gas production.
Experts warn that if the standoff persists, it could trigger widespread supply disruptions and price hikes across the country.
The Federal Government has convened an emergency meeting led by the Minister of Labour to mediate between the warring parties.
