The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has condemned the recent directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), describing it as “brazen, shocking, lawless, and criminal.”
In a statement signed by the refinery’s management and dated September 27, 2025, Dangote faulted the Association’s instruction to its branches to “cut off” gas supply and crude oil supplies to the refinery, labeling the move as illegal and a threat to national security.
According to the statement, the directive—allegedly issued on September 26, 2025—was circulated to several PENGASSAN branches, including TotalEnergies E&P, Seplat Producing Nigeria, Renaissance, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, SNG, and NGC. It ordered members to immediately halt supply to the Dangote Refinery and cut off all crude oil valves.
The refinery said such an instruction amounted to economic sabotage, criminal interference, and a deliberate attempt to cause chaos in Nigeria’s energy sector, warning that it could plunge the country into severe hardship and instability.
“Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or to any other company. The directive is illegal, unlawful, and criminal,” the statement said.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery emphasized that it had no contractual relationship with PENGASSAN, noting that its agreements were signed directly with third-party vendors and suppliers, and not the union. It accused PENGASSAN of usurping authority and attempting to disrupt legally binding contracts.
The management argued that the union’s action amounted to economic sabotage by trying to cripple the supply of critical petroleum products including aviation fuel, diesel, petrol, kerosene, and LPG—which could lead to hardship across the country.
The statement further read:
“Our laws do not permit self-help or mob action. PENGASSAN’s directive is a clear invitation to anarchy and must not be tolerated. This conduct threatens Nigeria’s only refinery of its kind and poses a danger to national security.”
Dangote urged the Federal Government, its security agencies, and relevant law enforcement authorities to intervene swiftly to prevent what it described as an attempt to sabotage the nation’s energy stability.
The company also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, assuring that it would resist any unlawful directive while taking all necessary legal actions against PENGASSAN.
“PENGASSAN is not above the law and must not be allowed to introduce anarchy. The Association must live up to its Press Release of September 26, 2025, to ‘take all necessary legal actions’ rather than illegal and criminal ones,” the statement concluded.
