by Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Ọláwálé Dáwódù
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was paralysed on Monday as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) launched a nationwide strike that shut down the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
By mid-morning, the gates of NUPRC headquarters in Abuja were chained shut, leaving scores of employees stranded on the pavement. At the usually busy NMDPRA offices in the Central Business District, silence replaced the bustle of activity. “We have achieved 100 per cent compliance here and across other key agencies, including NNPC,” declared Tony Iziogba, PENGASSAN chairman at NMDPRA.
The strike follows the alleged dismissal of more than 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. PENGASSAN accuses the refinery of sacking staff who joined the union and replacing them with expatriates. “This is a direct violation of Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions,” the union charged in its resolution.
The union also issued a dramatic ultimatum: “All crude oil and gas supply to Dangote Refinery must stop immediately,” it ordered, instructing international oil companies to halt deliveries.
The implications are stark. Oil marketers warned that blocking crude and gas flows could trigger fuel shortages and price hikes within days. Energy analysts added that gas supply cuts would cripple power plants, with one warning that “blackouts are no longer a risk—they’re a certainty if this persists.”
The disruption strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s fragile energy balance. NNPC remains the country’s sole petrol importer, NMDPRA regulates supply and distribution, and NUPRC oversees crude and gas production. With all three agencies effectively shut, the nation’s energy system hangs in the balance.
The Minister of Labour has summoned an emergency meeting in a bid to broker peace. But with Dangote Group under fire for alleged “anti-labour practices” and PENGASSAN insisting on the reinstatement of sacked workers, the confrontation shows no sign of easing.
For now, the gates remain locked, the oil sector is silent, and the nation waits anxiously.
