Nigeria’s oil industry has been thrown into fresh turmoil as oil workers embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday, shutting down offices of NNPC Limited and key regulators. The action follows the sacking of over 800 workers at the Dangote Oil Refinery, Africa’s largest, in what is fast becoming one of the most serious labour showdowns in years.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) accused Dangote Refinery of targeting workers who tried to unionise, calling the mass dismissal an attack on labour rights. But the refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, dismissed the claim, insisting the job cuts were part of staff reorganisation and even alleging acts of sabotage by some of those laid off.
Efforts to broker peace collapsed after Dangote secured a court injunction stopping the union from disrupting crude and gas supply to the facility. PENGASSAN rejected the order, saying it was not legally served. “Court orders are served via bailiffs, not through social media,” said union executive Lumumba Okugbawa.
The impact was immediate. Offices of NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were shut down, raising fears of wider disruption. NNPC said it was monitoring events closely and working with stakeholders to find a constructive resolution, while regulators urged both sides to settle amicably.
Analysts warn that if other unions join the strike, Nigeria’s oil production and fuel supply chain could face a severe hit, potentially causing scarcity at filling stations and disrupting exports to neighbouring countries. The refinery, which only began operations this year, was meant to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fuel imports — but the crisis now threatens to derail those ambitions.
Beyond the immediate supply concerns, the dispute has triggered wider debates about labour rights in Nigeria’s private sector. “This is not just about one refinery — it is about the future of workers’ rights in Nigeria’s oil sector,” one labour researcher in Abuja noted.
For now, both sides remain entrenched. PENGASSAN insists workers must be reinstated before talks can progress, while Dangote Refinery shows no sign of backing down. The standoff has left the industry — and the economy — on edge, highlighting the delicate battle between private capital and organised labour in Africa’s biggest oil producer.