Dangote Refinery Accuses PENGASSAN of ‘Economic Sabotage’ Over Gas and Crude Supply Cut Directive

Dangote Refinery has sharply condemned the directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ordering its members to cut off gas and crude supply to the facility, labeling the action as an act of “economic sabotage.”

The oil company released a lengthy statement on Saturday, responding to the union’s strike action. The refinery’s counter-attack follows PENGASSAN’s decision to retaliate against the company for the sacking of over 800 workers who were members of the association.

PENGASSAN had swiftly asked its members across the country to cease the flow of gas and crude to the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, demanding a reversal of the arbitrary termination of appointments meted out to the Nigerian workers.

However, Dangote Refinery, in its formal response, described the union’s move as a “criminal and illicit affront” against a critical national asset.

“The follow-up question is, in whose interest and on whose behalf is PENGASSAN directing and intending to inflict such anarchic and criminal disruption upon the Nigerian society and persons living in Nigeria? Most certainly not in the interest of the Nigerian State and/or the Nigerian public and citizens,” the statement read.

The refinery further asserted that the directive is an act of “economic sabotage against the Nigerian State at multiple levels,” arguing that as the only refinery of its type in Africa, it “ordinarily should be the pride of Nigerians and the government,” and is a “strategic national asset.”

The company warned that an injury to the refinery constitutes a “national embarrassment” and acts as a “disincentive to external investors” considering Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The refinery urged the Federal Government and its security and law enforcement agencies to intervene immediately.

“We are, by this write-up, drawing the attention of the Federal Government and its security and law enforcement agencies – as well as all other levels of government in Nigeria – to this criminal, lawless, reckless and irresponsible conduct of PENGASSAN and calling on them – the Federal Government and its agencies, in particular – to call the Association to order.”

The refinery’s statement, however, remained silent on the core issue of the unjust treatment of the sacked Nigerian workers, which PENGASSAN has vowed to fight until a resolution is reached.