The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stepped in to mediate the escalating conflict between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), warning against actions that could further damage the nation’s struggling economy.
The peace talks initiated by the government moved to the Office of the NSA in Abuja on Tuesday night after failing to reach resolution at the Ministry of Labour.
NSA Ribadu chaired a marathon meeting involving Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote, PENGASSAN leaders, and key government officials including Finance Minister Wale Edun and Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi. The talks sought to end the PENGASSAN’s strike that has disrupted operations across both upstream and downstream sectors of Nigeria’s oil industry.
According to insiders, the strike was triggered by Dangote’s dismissal of 800 workers, resulting in unrest among union members who have since blockaded critical regulatory bodies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The ripple effects have resulted in petrol scarcity in Abuja and long queues at fuel stations across Lagos, with black-market prices surging as high as N980 per litre.
Finance Minister Edun expressed grave concerns over the strike’s potential to cripple the country’s economy. Speaking after a nine-hour session convened by Labour Minister Dingyadi, Edun stressed that uninterrupted gas and crude oil supplies were vital to sustaining industrial production and economic growth.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) also condemned the strike, labelling it a threat to industrial harmony and economic sustainability. NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, urged for lawful resolution through established channels and warned against coercive actions that disrupt enterprises not involved in the dispute.
Meanwhile, the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) called on the Federal Government to intervene swiftly to prevent a collapse of private refineries that have invested heavily in job creation and import substitution but are now threatened by persistent disruptions.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) confirmed that the strike had caused power generation shortfalls, reducing national grid output from over 4,300 MW to around 3,200 MW. NISO announced contingency measures, including increased hydropower production, to stabilize the grid while the gas supply disruption persists.
As talks continue, the government appeals for calm and cooperation to avert further damaging fallout.
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