The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, has lamented the crude and gas production losses resulting from the three-day strike carried out by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
In a letter written to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Mr Ojulari explained that the suspended strike led to 16 per cent oil production and 30 per cent marketed gas losses, while the nation suffered a 20 per cent power supply shortfall.
The national oil company’s letter, dated 29 September 2025 and titled ‘Impact Assessment of ongoing industrial action,’ was also sent to the National Security Adviser and the Director General, Department of State Services.
The industrial action caused by a rift between the union and the Dangote Refinery forced the shutdown of major oil terminals, gas plants and power facilities, leading to the deferment of 283,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 1.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily, choking off vital income streams from the country’s two biggest revenue sources.
This came as the leadership of the union announced the suspension of its nationwide strike against Dangote Petroleum Refinery following the intervention of the Federal Government, even as it cautioned that the truce remained temporary and could be revisited if the pending issues were not addressed.
The newsmen reports that both PENGASSAN and the management of the 650,000 refinery have been at loggerheads.
The rift stemmed from allegations by PENGASSAN that the Dangote Refinery engaged in mass transfers and sackings of union members, while also replacing some Nigerians with foreign nationals, claims the company consistently denied.
The refinery’s management stated that the workforce reorganization was due to operational requirements and not related to union activities.
The standoff escalated when the union embarked on an industrial action by halting gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery, raising the alarm over potential disruptions to the nation’s energy supply and economic stability.
Meanwhile, the PENGASSAN leadership explained that the decision to temporarily suspend the nationwide strike was taken out of respect for federal institutions and government mediation efforts, stressing that it was not a show of confidence in Dangote.
The PENGASSAN boss explained that workers at the Dangote Refinery willingly joined the union because they wanted improved welfare packages and conditions of service comparable to global oil and gas industry standards.
Punch/Halima Abdulganiyu
