JUST IN :PENGASSAN orders members to halt gas, crude supply to Dangote Refinery

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has instructed its members to immediately suspend the supply of gas and crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, escalating its dispute with the company’s management over unionisation efforts.

In a memo signed by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, members were directed to shut crude oil supply valves to the refinery, stop loading operations for vessels, and cut off gas supply without delay.

The directive was issued to branch chairmen of TotalEnergies E&P, Seplat Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, and NGIC. The union accused the refinery’s management of disengaging its members in retaliation for attempting to unionise, calling the move “illegitimate” and alleging that the company resorted to “misinformation and propaganda” instead of dialogue.

The statement partly read: “We bring you fraternal greetings from the National Secretariat. As you are aware, the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to being unionized.

“They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong. Consequent to these, you hereby directed to cut off gas supply to NGIC effective immediately. All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut. The loading operation for vessel headed there should be halted immediately.

“NGIC Chairman, ensure that gas supply to the Refinery is cut off effective immediately. All chairmen on this summon are to report promptly the progress of the directive.”

The standoff underscores growing tensions between the union and the Dangote Refinery over workers’ rights to organise.