The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has condemned the shutdown order issued by PENGASSAN, describing it as “criminal, lawless, and economic sabotage.”
In a statement, the company warned that the union’s directive would inflict hardship on Nigerians by disrupting supplies of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, and cooking gas.
“Apart from the lawlessness and criminality inherent in the PENGASSAN’s instruction to its branches, the association’s directive amounts to economic sabotage at multiple levels. In plain language, PENGASSAN has directed its branches to disrupt and stop the supply of petroleum products from the Dangote refinery to Nigerians.
“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. 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 insisted that no law gives PENGASSAN the authority to stop crude and gas supplies, saying the contracts were with third-party vendors and not the union.
“This refinery is a strategic national asset and one of Africa’s most critical projects. Any attempt to disrupt its operations is sabotage against Nigerians and the state,” the company said.
Dangote urged the Federal Government to intervene, warning that such actions could discourage foreign investors from Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“PENGASSAN has no right to introduce anarchy and mayhem into our society. The association is not above the law, and it must not be allowed to believe that it is or behave as if it is. We are also calling on all Nigerians to take note of the unquantifiable and irredeemable hardship which PENGASSAN wishes to inflict on all of us. There is no Nigerian household that does not use or need the petroleum products which PENGASSAN has now directed its branches, by fiat, to withdraw from the Nigerian market. Again, we list some of them: petrol, cooking gas, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel.
“The production and supply of these products by Dangote Refinery would cease if the PENGASSAN cabal is allowed or permitted to enforce its lawless and criminal directive. The association must not be allowed to ride roughshod over Nigerians. The repercussions from the PENGASSAN directive would affect and inflict harm on all Nigerians. This is therefore a fight for all Nigerians,” the statement added.
