In a memo signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN insisted it had not been formally served with any restraining order.
“Our attention has been drawn to rumours making rounds on a Court injunction restraining our noble exercise. I want to unequivocally state that we have not been served anything of such. Court orders or processes are served via court bailiff and not through social media,” the statement read.
Okugbawa directed all members to continue with the strike until further notice, stressing that only official communication channels should be trusted. He also commended members’ resilience, declaring that “victory is in sight.”
Court Blocks Strike
Earlier the same day, Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja granted a seven-day interim injunction restraining PENGASSAN from embarking on the industrial action.
The order followed an ex parte application filed by Dangote Refinery and argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) George Ibrahim.
Ibrahim told the court that the refinery, which employs over 3,000 Nigerians, delivers critical services to the economy. He said only a small fraction of staff were affected by a restructuring exercise, which he linked to safety and operational concerns.
Justice Subilim ruled that allowing the strike could cripple essential services and cause irreparable harm to refinery operations. The court fixed October 13 for further hearing.
Protest and Shutdowns
Despite the injunction, PENGASSAN members took to the streets in Abuja, barricading the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), as well as offices of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Chanting solidarity songs and waving placards, the protesters accused Dangote Refinery of violating workers’ rights by allegedly sacking over 800 Nigerians and replacing them with more than 2,000 expatriates from India.
In its circular, PENGASSAN directed members to halt crude and gas supplies and shut down control room and field operations nationwide.
Backing the strike, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, declared: “We stand in full solidarity with the affected workers. No corporation will be allowed to trample on workers’ rights.” He demanded reinstatement of the dismissed staff and a public apology, warning of a broader labour shutdown if demands were not met.
Dangote’s Response
Dangote Refinery denied all allegations of labour rights violations, insisting its restructuring was necessary to protect operations following internal sabotage.
The company said thousands of Nigerians remained employed, with only a negligible number affected. It accused PENGASSAN of “criminal conduct” and “economic sabotage,” warning that cutting off supplies could destabilise Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and drain government revenues.
Dangote Refinery called on the Federal Government to intervene swiftly, warning that prolonged disruptions could damage the country’s fragile energy sector.
