By Abiola Olawale
Major oil marketers across the country have raised concern over the escalating standoff between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery owned by Africa’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
This is as oil marketers warned that the ongoing crisis could cripple distribution networks and expose 150 million Nigerians to acute shortages of essential fuels like petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and cooking gas.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), reacting to the situation warned that the disruption could destabilise fuel prices, erode investment confidence, and worsen Nigeria’s fragile electricity supply.
This was made known by IPMAN National Publicity Officer Chinedu Ukadike.
Ukadike said: “There is no market stability and no return on investment. Disruption of crude and gas supply will trigger fuel price hikes and worsen power shortages.
“The directive by PENGASSAN to stop the supply of crude and gas to the refinery would definitely affect the market. Marketers may now be forced to consider importing products, which means the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority will have to issue import licences to DAPPMAN members to augment the shortfall.”
He warned that unless the Federal Government acts swiftly, the crisis could spiral into higher pump prices and “unnecessary galloping inflation” that would further squeeze Nigerians. “I believe a proactive Federal Government, through the Minister of Petroleum, will quickly intervene to ensure these lapses do not destabilise the economy.
“The last time there was an issue with NUPENG, the minister was also out of the country, but he aborted the trip and came back to resolve it. I expect him to do the same with this issue.”
The New Diplomat reports that on Sunday, PENGASSAN announced a nationwide strike, instructing all its members in various offices, companies, institutions, and agencies to cease all services starting at 12:01 am on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The union also directed members stationed in various field locations to down tools from 6:00 am on Sunday, September 28, and commence a round-the-clock prayer vigil. The emergency decision followed the sack of over 800 Nigerian workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a strongly worded resolution signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for joining the union. It alleged the dismissed workers had been replaced by foreigners.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the resolution declared. “All IOC (International Oil Companies) branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals.”
However, Dangote, in a swift response, described PENGASSAN’s order to cut crude oil and gas supplies to its facility as “unlawful, reckless, and a direct threat to the national economy.”
In a statement released on Saturday, the refinery said: “The products that would be disrupted and stopped include but are not limited to aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas – all products that are used and required by all stripes of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria, whether high and mighty or lowly and ordinary.”
“In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see.”
