Dangote Refinery has branded PENGASSAN’s directive to halt crude and gas supplies as “criminal” and warned it could cause fuel queues, energy shortages, and huge revenue losses for Nigeria
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has strongly condemned the directive by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ordering its members to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery, describing the move as “criminal, reckless, and an act of economic sabotage.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, the refinery warned that the enforcement of the directive would throw Nigerians back into painful fuel queues, trigger energy shortages, and wipe out significant government revenue.
“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 used and required by all stripes of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria, whether high and mighty or lowly and ordinary,” the statement read. “In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce insufferable hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see.”
Dangote Refinery further questioned the union’s motive, adding: “In whose interest and on whose behalf is PENGASSAN directing and intending to inflict such anarchic and criminal disruption upon the Nigerian society and persons living in Nigeria? Most certainly, not in the interest of the Nigerian State and/or the Nigerian public and citizens.”
The refinery noted that its operations are critical not only to citizens’ daily needs but also to government finances, stressing that it is one of the largest contributors to both federal and state revenue.
“This is also economic sabotage against the Nigerian State at multiple levels. Dangote Refinery is the only refinery of its type in Africa and ordinarily should be the pride of all Nigerians as well as the governments of Nigeria. It should ordinarily have special protection and status and indeed qualifies as a strategic national asset,” the statement added.
The company emphasized that halting operations would damage investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, describing the threat as a “national embarrassment” that could discourage external investors.
It also insisted that PENGASSAN had no legal grounds to interfere with supply contracts, calling its directive unlawful.
“Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery or at all. Besides, it constitutes a criminal conduct for PENGASSAN or its members to disrupt and/or interfere howsoever in the contract between Dangote Refinery and its various vendors,” the company said. Dangote Refinery therefore urged the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly to prevent what it described as “unquantifiable and irredeemable hardship” on Nigerians. It appealed to PENGASSAN to embrace dialogue and lawful processes instead of resorting to “economic sabotage and mob action” that could destabilize the country’s energy supply chain. Read More
