Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned that the directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to cut crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery could plunge Nigerians into fresh fuel scarcity and cause huge revenue losses for the government.
In a statement released on Saturday, the refinery described the directive as “criminal, reckless, and an act of economic sabotage” that, if enforced, would disrupt the production and nationwide supply of critical petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, and cooking gas.
The company stressed that these products are indispensable to daily life and the economy, warning that Nigerians at every level—from households to businesses and industries—would bear the brunt of shortages. It noted that a sudden disruption in supply would translate into unbearable hardship for millions of citizens.
“The products that would be disrupted and stopped include but are not limited to aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas—all products that are required by all Nigerians, whether high or low. In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to disrupt supply and introduce such hardship? None that we can see. The follow-up question is, in whose interest is PENGASSAN intending to inflict such disruption? Most certainly not in the interest of the Nigerian State or its citizens,” the statement said.
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Beyond the hardship on citizens, Dangote Refinery warned that government revenue would also be hit, given its status as one of the country’s largest taxpayers and contributors to both federal and state coffers. It added that any halt in operations would stall contributions to the national purse and undermine investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“This is economic sabotage against the Nigerian State at multiple levels. Dangote Refinery is the only refinery of its type in Africa and should be the pride of all Nigerians. It qualifies as a strategic national asset. An injury to the Dangote Refinery, such as PENGASSAN has directed, constitutes a national embarrassment and a disincentive to external investors who might otherwise be encouraged by its success,” it added.
The company further stressed that PENGASSAN lacked the legal authority to interfere in supply contracts between the refinery and its vendors, insisting that the directive undermined the rule of law.
“No law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery. It also constitutes criminal conduct for PENGASSAN or its members to disrupt contracts between the refinery and its vendors. Those agreements were not entered into with PENGASSAN,” the statement said.
Calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly, the refinery urged Nigerians to take note of the “unquantifiable and irredeemable hardship which PENGASSAN wishes to inflict” if unchecked. It warned that fuel queues, energy shortages, and price hikes could quickly resurface.
The company appealed to PENGASSAN to embrace amicable and legal resolution rather than resorting to economic sabotage and mob action that could trigger chaos and anarchy.
