PENGASSAN grounds Dangote Refinery, partially shuts fertiliser plants
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has shut down operations at Dangote Refinery.
In a status update on Sunday morning, the association confirmed that the refinery was completely shut, while the fertiliser plant’s train two was also down, with train one operating at 60 percent capacity. It added that the diesel plant remains operational.
The action followed PENGASSAN’s directive to members nationwide to withdraw services beginning 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025. Workers in field locations, including control room and panel operators, were also ordered to stop work from 6 a.m. on Sunday and commence 24-hour prayers.
At an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, the union accused Dangote Refinery of sacking more than 800 workers for joining PENGASSAN, describing the move as a breach of Nigeria’s labour laws, the constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
In a statement, PENGASSAN General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa alleged that the refinery had replaced Nigerian workers with 2,000 Indians despite enjoying unprecedented government incentives. He further accused the company of subjecting Nigerians to some of the harshest working conditions in the oil and gas industry.
As part of its resolutions, PENGASSAN directed all processes involving crude oil and gas supply to the refinery to be suspended immediately and instructed its branches in International Oil Companies (IOCs) to reduce gas production and halt supply to Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.
