by Godwin Orozo-
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has granted an interim order restraining the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from disrupting operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice E.D. Subilim said she was convinced there was “a serious issue to be tried” in the matter.
“The balance of convenience favors granting this interim relief. Without the injunction, the plaintiffs could suffer significant economic loss,” Justice Subilim stated.
The order, which will subsist for seven days in the first instance, prevents NUPENG, its members, agents, and privies from embarking on any strike or industrial action that could cripple the refinery’s operations. It also restrains the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from joining any strike “orchestrated by NUPENG” against Dangote Petroleum Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.
In their ex-parte application, argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria George Ibrahim on behalf of Ogwu James Onoja (SAN & Co.), the companies warned that any shutdown would cause “irreparable damage to ongoing production and to the wider petroleum supply chain.”
Justice Subilim further directed the trucking association and its members to continue providing petroleum haulage services to the refinery, its co-applicants, and the Nigerian public until the dispute is resolved.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/279/2024, was filed under Order 22 Rules 1–3 and Order 17 Rules 1 and 4 of the court’s rules, as well as Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. According to a certified enrolled order, the case file will be remitted to the Court’s President for reassignment after the vacation period.
The Dangote Refinery, described as Africa’s largest oil-processing facility, is considered vital to Nigeria’s energy security and economic diversification efforts. Stakeholders warn that any prolonged disruption could have far-reaching consequences for national fuel supply and pricing.
