The National Industrial Court in Abuja has halted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from carrying out its ongoing strike action targeting the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The order was handed down on Monday by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim following an ex parte motion filed by the refinery.
Furthermore, the court specifically restrained PENGASSAN from cutting off crude oil and gas supplies, a move that would have disrupted operations at the $20 billion facility.
Justice Subilim ruled that allowing the union to proceed with its threats could cause significant damage to the refinery, which has been described as a critical national asset for Nigeria’s energy future.
“The court has a duty to preserve the status quo until the substantive issues are determined,” the judge stated.
Apart from PENGASSAN, the suit also listed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as defendants.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, George Ibrahim, who argued the application on behalf of Dangote Refinery, told the court that the planned industrial action could cripple fuel production and undermine Nigeria’s push for energy independence.
“This refinery is not just a private investment; it is vital to the stability of the nation’s oil supply chain,” Ibrahim said.
The case is expected to generate further legal debate in the coming days, particularly as the refinery and oil workers’ union remain locked in disagreements over working conditions and supply arrangements.
This development highlights the delicate balance between labour rights and the strategic importance of keeping Nigeria’s biggest refinery fully operational.