Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was thrown into turmoil on Monday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, began a nationwide strike, crippling operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The industrial action followed a weekend directive from the union’s National Executive Council and has effectively grounded operations across the country.
At the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, gates were locked, and staff were barred from entry as security personnel enforced the strike order.
A similar scene played out at the NMDPRA office in the Central Business District, where all activity came to a standstill.
Confirming the development, Tony Iziogba, Chairman of PENGASSAN at NMDPRA, said the strike had achieved “100 per cent compliance” and extended across the NNPCL and other regulatory institutions.
The dispute centres on the alleged wrongful dismissal of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
PENGASSAN accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by terminating workers for union membership and subsequently replacing them with foreigners.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the union declared in a strongly worded resolution signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.
It further instructed international oil companies to “ramp down gas production and supply” to the refinery and petrochemical plants.
The strike has already raised alarms in the energy sector. Oil marketers and analysts warn of imminent disruptions in fuel supply, with fears that the move could choke the domestic market, trigger fuel scarcity, and push prices higher.
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Since NNPCL is currently the sole importer of petrol, any extended disruption could ripple through the economy, affecting households, businesses, and power generation.
The timing has also deepened concerns over blackouts, as gas supply to power plants may be curtailed. With Nigeria’s electricity grid already fragile, energy experts caution that further strain could plunge many areas into prolonged outages.
The Ministry of Labour has convened an emergency meeting to resolve the crisis, but tension remains high as both sides stand their ground. For PENGASSAN, the strike is about defending workers’ rights and challenging what it calls an “exploitative and unlawful” labour practice at the Dangote Refinery.
For government and industry players, however, the strike poses a significant threat to economic stability at a time when Nigeria is battling high inflation and volatile fuel markets.
Whether the standoff leads to swift compromise or a protracted disruption may determine the extent of the economic fallout. For now, Nigeria’s vital oil and gas institutions remain under lock and key, and citizens brace for the possibility of another round of fuel shortages and power cuts.
NAN
