Nationwide PENGASSAN Strike Disrupts Oil Sector

A nationwide strike by senior oil workers began on Monday, crippling operations across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and forcing the closure of major regulatory bodies.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) withdrew services from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Union officials say the action follows the alleged dismissal of around 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which they claim were targeted for joining the union. The workers have reportedly been replaced by foreign staff.

Access was blocked at several government offices, including the NUPRC and NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, as union members enforced the shutdown. PENGASSAN has also ordered the suspension of crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery, raising fears of fuel shortages and power outages. The Labour Ministry is expected to hold emergency talks to resolve the crisis.