Dangote Refinery Accuses PENGASSAN Of Economic Sabotage Over Supply Cut Directive

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) of economic sabotage after the Association ordered its members to halt crude oil and gas supply to the refinery.

In a statement signed by its management on Saturday, Dangote described the directive as “a brazen, albeit shocking display of lawlessness and criminality,” warning that it could cause widespread disruption in the country’s energy supply.

PENGASSAN, in a written communication dated 26 September 2025, had instructed members across several branches, including TotalEnergies, Chevron, Oando, and Shell Nigeria Gas, “to cut off gas supply to NGIC effective immediately” and ensure that “all crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut.”

Dangote argued that the order had no legal basis, saying, “Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all.” It added that the move amounted to interference with private contracts between the refinery and its vendors.

The company warned that enforcing the directive would amount to economic sabotage, disrupting supplies of petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas and aviation fuel. “In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce insufferable hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see,” it said.

Describing the refinery as a strategic national asset, Dangote added that “an irreparable injury to the Dangote Refinery such as PENGASSAN has directed constitutes a national embarrassment to all of us” and could deter foreign investors from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The management called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intervene immediately, stating, “PENGASSAN has no right to introduce anarchy and mayhem into our society. The Association is not above the law, and it must not be allowed to believe that it is or behave as if it is.”

It urged the Association to honour its earlier commitment to pursue legal redress instead of taking what it described as “illicit and criminal actions,” while also calling on Nigerians to resist attempts to inflict “unquantifiable and irredeemable hardship” on households across the country.