The National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other key stakeholders from disrupting crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the interim order on Monday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the refinery. The defendants in the suit include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Justice Subilim held that halting crude and gas supply or embarking on industrial action against Dangote Refinery could cause irreparable damage to its operations and cripple the supply of essential petroleum products to Nigerians. He added that preserving industrial peace and continuity of services was in the public interest.
The restraining order, which will last for seven days, must be served on all defendants alongside a motion on notice. The case was adjourned to October 13, 2025, for further hearing.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, George Ibrahim, who argued on behalf of Dangote Refinery, told the court that some incidents of sabotage at the plant had raised serious safety concerns. This led management to reorganize operations, which included relieving a small number of employees of their duties.
Ibrahim explained that despite reports suggesting over 800 workers were sacked for unionizing, the refinery clarified that union membership was not the issue. Instead, the restructuring was targeted at addressing sabotage and safety risks. He stressed that Dangote Refinery employs over 3,000 Nigerians, and only a negligible number of staff were affected.
However, PENGASSAN, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, issued a letter on September 26, 2025, threatening industrial action if the dismissed employees were not reinstated. The union also warned the Minister of Petroleum that its members could take actions capable of forcing the refinery to a halt.
While granting the interim injunction, Justice Subilim emphasized that the balance of convenience favored the refinery, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
