The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive intervention that stopped what it described as “the disruptive actions” of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against the company.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the refinery said the President’s leadership, through the coordinated efforts of key ministers and security chiefs, restored order and stability to Nigeria’s energy sector during a period of high tension.
Recall that last week, PENGASSAN shut down vital oil and gas facilities nationwide, alleging that Dangote Refinery had terminated the employment of over 800 workers who joined the union. The Federal Government’s timely mediation led to the suspension of the strike on Wednesday.
“Dangote Refinery is grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention, through his ministers and senior officials, which resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the refinery,” the company stated.
The refinery singled out the efforts of National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, describing them as key figures who “worked tirelessly” to restore calm.
The company also commended Dr. Mohammed Dingyadi (Minister of Labour and Employment), Wale Edun (Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Senator Abubakar Bagudu (Minister of Budget and Economic Planning), and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Minister of State for Labour and Employment) for their patriotic service and commitment to national stability.
“We remain very grateful to these officials for their patriotism and national service,” Dangote Refinery noted.
Expressing gratitude to Nigerians for their support, the refinery said the solidarity shown by citizens across the country strengthened its resolve to keep serving the nation’s economic interest.
“Your support was both humbling and overwhelming. You gave us hope and reinforced our belief in the Nigerian people as the backbone of our enterprise,” the statement added.
Dangote Refinery accused certain individuals of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s economic progress, vowing to continue defending national interests against “rent seekers, saboteurs, and economic opportunists.”
The refinery also commended its staff for their steadfastness and loyalty during the industrial dispute.
“Our workers stood firm even in the face of incitement. Their dedication ensured our operations were not disrupted for a single moment,” the management said.
The company further praised the Nigerian Judiciary for upholding justice and the rule of law during the crisis, describing the institution as “a true bastion of hope for all Nigerians.”
“The judiciary stood up for truth and fairness despite intimidation from powerful forces. Their courage reaffirmed our faith in Nigeria’s legal system,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, the refinery pledged to maintain uninterrupted production of petroleum products and continue supporting national development.
“Our dedication to national service remains undiminished and unshakeable despite distractions from detractors,” the statement concluded.
The dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN, which nearly paralysed operations across the energy sector, was resolved after high-level intervention by the Tinubu administration.
