Nigeria’s oil sector is facing fresh chaos as oil workers launched a nationwide strike on Monday, shutting down offices of NNPC Limited and key regulators. The action came after more than 800 workers were dismissed from the newly opened Dangote Oil Refinery, sparking one of the biggest labour battles the industry has seen in years.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) accused Dangote Refinery of sacking staff who attempted to unionise, calling the mass dismissal a direct attack on workers’ rights. But the refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, pushed back, saying the layoffs were part of a staff reorganisation and even alleging sabotage by some affected employees.
Talks to resolve the crisis collapsed after Dangote secured a court injunction to stop the union from blocking crude and gas supply to the refinery. PENGASSAN dismissed the injunction as invalid, insisting it had not been legally served. “Court orders are served via bailiffs, not through social media,” said union executive Lumumba Okugbawa.
The strike has already crippled the operations of NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Regulators have urged both sides to seek peace, while NNPC reassured Nigerians it is monitoring the situation closely and working to safeguard energy stability.
The timing is critical. Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, has long struggled to refine its own fuel. The 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery, launched earlier this year, was celebrated as a game-changer to cut imports and strengthen regional supply. But with the strike now biting, analysts warn a prolonged standoff could disrupt exports, trigger scarcity at filling stations, and dent investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Beyond fuel concerns, the confrontation is raising bigger questions 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,” an Abuja-based labour researcher said.
For now, the standoff shows no signs of easing. PENGASSAN is demanding reinstatement of sacked workers, while the refinery is holding firm on its position. Observers fear that if the impasse drags on, it could paralyse the very sector the government is banking on to stabilise the economy.
