Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery or embarking on any strike action against it.
The ruling came on Monday following an ex-parte application filed by Dangote Refinery through its counsel, George Ibrahim, SAN. Ibrahim urged the court to stop PENGASSAN and its members, as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, from carrying out directives that could halt the refinery’s operations.
He argued that “the 1st Defendant, its members and protegees in the services of the 2nd – 4th Defendants have perfected plans to embark on an industrial action which will cripple the operations and services of the Claimant to the Nigerian public as well as the economy.”
Ibrahim told the court that Dangote Refinery had recently undergone a “re-organisation” after incidents of sabotage and safety concerns, which led to some workers being relieved of their jobs. He insisted that contrary to reports, the refinery was not against unionisation and that only “a negligible number of staff were affected.”
Justice Subilim ruled that the balance of convenience favoured Dangote Refinery, stressing that the strike could “irreparably damage its business and cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.”
The judge granted the restraining order for seven days and directed that it be served on the defendants along with the motion on notice. Hearing of the substantive motion was fixed for October 13, 2025.
