The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and related parties from halting crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim delivered the ruling following an ex parte motion filed by the management of Dangote Refinery. The court barred union leaders, their agents, and associates from carrying out any industrial action capable of disrupting operations at the multi-billion-dollar facility.
The injunction also extends to state regulators and agencies. Specifically, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission were ordered not to enforce directives or decisions that could obstruct crude or gas flow to the refinery.
In his decision, Justice Subilim noted that the refinery’s role in Nigeria’s energy supply made the matter one of national economic importance. He explained that allowing the planned disruption would cause irreparable harm, both to Dangote Refinery’s business interests and to the wider public, which depends on its products.
The judge further ruled that the “balance of convenience” favored granting temporary protection to the refinery, stressing that stability in energy supply must be preserved pending a full hearing of the dispute.
The interim order is to remain in effect for seven days in the first instance. The court scheduled October 13 for hearing of the substantive motion.
