Nigeria’s House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, a conflict that has disrupted the country’s petroleum distribution network.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by lawmakers Alhassan Doguwa from Kano and Abdussamad Dasuki from Sokoto during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The lawmakers emphasized the economic importance of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, describing it as Africa’s largest private petroleum refinery and a project of strategic national significance.
The face-off, which began on September 29, 2025, triggered a shutdown that disrupted refinery operations and resulted in an estimated loss of 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily for three consecutive days.
The industrial action worsened fuel scarcity across multiple states, leaving Nigerians in long queues at filling stations as transportation costs spiked. The lawmakers warned that continued disruptions of such scale could destabilize Nigeria’s fragile energy supply chain and deepen inflationary pressures.
Doguwa, representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in Kano State, urged the House to prioritize the protection of private investments like the Dangote Refinery.
He said, “The House is aware that the Dangote Refinery is a strategic private investment of immense national importance, with the potential to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, generate employment, and conserve foreign exchange.”
The motion highlighted that the refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). According to Doguwa, Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act states that “Employment in the free zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to the provisions of any enactments relating to employment matters.” This clause, he argued, means PENGASSAN’s industrial action may have breached the law.
The lawmakers cautioned that “actions by labour unions that disregard the legal protections conferred on Free Zones under the NEPZA Act not only constitute a breach of law but also create a hostile investment environment that may deter future local and foreign investors.” They warned that unchecked “adversarial unionism” could erode investor confidence and jeopardize national growth.
Ahmad Jaha, representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, advised the House to proceed cautiously, describing a proposed probe as ill-timed. Following deliberations, the House resolved to mediate between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery to restore normalcy and protect the national interest.
The House also directed the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Justice to jointly develop policies safeguarding strategic private investments from unlawful union disruptions. Additionally, it urged NEPZA and the Ministry of Justice to enforce Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act across all Free Zone operations to prevent similar conflicts in the future.