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Dangote Refinery alleges PENGASSAN ordered crude and gas supply cut-off
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Company warns directive could cripple national energy supply
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Calls on FG, security agencies to stop “anarchy and lawlessness”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) of attempting to plunge the country into chaos through an illegal directive to halt crude oil and gas supplies to its facility.
The company, in a strongly worded statement on Saturday, described the union’s action as “a brazen display of lawlessness and criminality,” warning that it could trigger nationwide fuel scarcity and destabilise the oil and gas sector.
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It was family that PENGASSAN’s National Secretariat, through its General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, directed branch leaders across multinational oil companies, including Chevron, Seplat, TotalEnergies, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas, and NGIC to cut off crude oil loading operations and halt gas supply to Dangote Refinery.
The union alleged that the refinery’s management had victimised workers who exercised their constitutional right to unionise, insisting such “illegitimacy cannot stand.”
It called on the federal government to intervene, warning of dire consequences if the matter was ignored.
In its response, Dangote Refinery accused PENGASSAN of attempting to disrupt legally binding supply contracts between the refinery and third-party vendors.
“This is a brazen, albeit shocking display of lawlessness and criminality by PENGASSAN. Absolutely no law gives the Association the right to direct its branches to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery,” the statement read.
The company maintained that the refinery, as Africa’s largest and a major contributor to government revenue, is a strategic national asset that should be protected.
It warned that the disruption could affect the supply of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and cooking gas nationwide.
READ ALSO: PENGASSAN Orders Gas, Crude Supply Cut to Dangote Refinery Over Sack of Union Members
Dangote Petroleum Refinery stressed that PENGASSAN’s action amounted to economic sabotage and a direct threat to Nigeria’s energy security.
“Our laws do not brook self-help and mob action that could introduce mayhem and chaos and easily translate into anarchy,” the statement said.
The company urged the Federal Government, security, and law enforcement agencies to immediately call the union to order, while warning Nigerians to resist any attempt to paralyse refinery operations.
“This is a fight for all Nigerians. The repercussions of PENGASSAN’s directive would inflict harm on every household and business across the country,” the statement added.
