The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ignited a seismic shift in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector with a bold declaration of a nationwide strike, set to commence at 12:01 AM on Monday, September 29, 2025. This unprecedented move follows a heated National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where PENGASSAN resolved to halt all services across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies, while field workers are to cease operations as early as 6:00 AM on Sunday, September 28, 2025—mere hours from now—initiating a 24-hour prayer vigil.
The strike is a direct response to ongoing tensions surrounding the Dangote Refinery, a $20 billion project poised to revolutionize Nigeria’s energy landscape by reducing reliance on imported refined petroleum products. PENGASSAN’s resolution explicitly calls for the immediate cessation of gas and crude supply to the refinery, alongside a ramp-down of gas production by International Oil Companies (IOCs). The union’s directive is clear: no intervention will be permitted unless personnel or asset safety is at risk, and even then, clearance must come from the National Secretariat.
At the heart of the strike is a broader struggle over control of Nigeria’s oil industry. PENGASSAN’s prayer vigil includes a poignant appeal for “God Almighty to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey the laws of our country.” The union’s rallying cry, “No man is bigger than our country, an injury to one is an injury to all,” underscores a perceived clash between national interests and powerful industry players.
The strike has sparked fervent discussion, with some stakeholders framing it as a proxy war between Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, and entrenched industry cabals. Uwem Ekpo, a prominent X user, captures the sentiment in a viral post: “The silence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on these issues simply indicates that the cabals in the industry prefer importing refined products over local production.” Ekpo alleges that powerful Nigerians, alongside foreign partners, are protecting multi-billion-dollar interests tied to foreign refineries, depots, and fuel supply chains. He traces the conflict’s escalation from disputes with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), laboratory testing, tank farm operators, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to PENGASSAN’s current action—labeling it the “semi-finals” before a potential showdown with petrol station owners.
Ekpo warns that Dangote may be compelled to align with the cabal’s agenda—continuing imports, maintaining depots, controlling trucking, fixing pump prices, or securing government subsidies—or face a shutdown. “This was what Dangote Refinery aimed to dismantle, but they are determined not to let that happen!!” he asserts, suggesting President Tinubu’s indifference reflects the “voice of Jacob, but the influence of Esau” within the administration.
For stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the PENGASSAN strike signals a critical juncture. The immediate halt of crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery threatens to delay its operational ramp-up, which was expected to produce 650,000 barrels per day, meeting domestic demand and enabling exports. This could exacerbate Nigeria’s fuel scarcity challenges, drive up pump prices, and strain the economy, already grappling with inflation and currency volatility.
The strike also raises questions about governance in the sector. With President Tinubu serving as the de facto Minister of Petroleum Resources, his administration’s silence has fueled speculation of complicity with industry cabals. Stakeholders must now navigate a delicate balance: supporting local refining capacity while addressing the concerns of workers and entrenched interests.
PENGASSAN’s strike, as the clock ticks toward its 6:00 AM start today, is more than a labor action; it’s a clarion call for transparency, accountability, and fairness in Nigeria’s oil industry. As the nation prays for divine intervention, stakeholders must demand dialogue to resolve this impasse. The future of local refining, energy security, and economic stability hangs in the balance. Will Dangote Refinery prevail, or will the cabals maintain their grip? The answer, as Uwem Ekpo suggests, will shape Nigeria’s energy landscape for decades to come.
