NNPCL laments PENGASSAN’s strike caused ‘extensive interruptions’ to national energy security

*Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC Limited, affirms the disclosed the three-day strike, triggered by a dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has led to the deferment of 283,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 1.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the Association’s recent three-day strike against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over Labor issues, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has decried the massive disruptions caused to the Critical National Assets by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria’s (PENGASSAN) industrial action.

ConsumerConnect reports the anti-Dangote Refinery’s strike actually wiped out a substantial portion of the country’s oil and gas output.

Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, disclosed this development in a letter dated 29 September, 2025, and addressed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

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Engr. Ojulari said the PENGASSAN’s action, triggered by a dispute between Association and Dangote Refinery, had led to the deferment of 283,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 1.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily in the country.

He specifically noted that losses represented about 16 percent of national oil production, 30 percent of marketed gas, and 20 percent of electricity supply respectively.

The NNPCL Chief Executive described the financial toll on the state oil company as “severe and compounding”.

The GCEO as well copied the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ojulari: Strike forced shutdown of oil terminals, gas plants, power facilities

Explaining the extent of damage, which the PENGASSAN’s strike had visited on the critical national oil and gas resources within three days, he affirmed that the strike forced the shutdown of oil terminals, gas plants and power facilities across the country, delaying critical maintenance programmes.

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According to him, such critical maintenance programmes include the USAN turnaround, AKPO GT-3 pigging, H2 well tests, annual compressor maintenance and SEPNU EAP IGE.

He further cautioned that continued disruptions could worsen production deferments and trigger demurrage claims from international buyers as loading schedules slip.

The industrial action, he stated, posed systemic risks to Nigeria’s energy supply and fiscal stability, calling for “a sustainable solution that prevents extensive interruptions to national energy security.”

It is recalled that PENGASSAN Wednesday, October 1, 2025, suspended the strike after the Federal Government’s intervention, though the Association warned that the peace accord was temporary.

Speaking on the latest development, Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, told reports in Abuja, FCT: “We are only suspending, not calling off the strike.

“Any breach of the agreement by Dangote and we will immediately resume our industrial action.”

Earlier, the Labour union had accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of mass transfers, dismissals, and replacing the Nigerian staff with expatriates.

Dangote, however, has since denied the allegations against the company, insisting that its internal reorganisation was only operational.

As Dangote Refinery alleged that PENGASSAN had declared the strike over payment of Union dues, and an attempt to disrupt operations at the $20 billion oil refinery, Osifo dismissed such a suggestion about Union dues or an attempt to undermine the multibillion-Dollar refinery.

The President of PENGASSAN rather explained: “This is about freedom of association and fair pay.

“Our members are the backbone of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which funds more than 90 percent of Foreign Exchange (Forex) earnings.

“We are here to defend their rights, not to destroy investment.”

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