Long fuel queues have resurfaced in Abuja and Lagos after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) shut down oil and gas facilities in protest against the alleged sack of 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The strike, which began this week, has disrupted operations at key government agencies, depots, and tank farms, sparking panic-buying and black-market sales. By Tuesday, some Abuja residents said they waited hours at filling stations, while others turned to roadside sellers where petrol went for N1,350 to N1,500 per litre.
One motorist, Charles Anazodo, vented his frustration online.
“See what PENGASSAN has caused. They claimed on TV that there’s enough stock for 30 days; now queues are everywhere because of this baseless standoff with Dangote,” he wrote.
Another Abuja resident, Retson Tedheke, described the action as an “own goal,” accusing unions of punishing ordinary Nigerians.
PENGASSAN defended its move, saying the refinery unfairly terminated unionised workers. Union President Festus Osifo had earlier assured Nigerians that fuel supply would not be disrupted, but depots in Apapa, Lagos, and several filling stations remained shut in solidarity with the strike.
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The Dangote Refinery rejected the allegations, calling them exaggerated. A company spokesperson said only a few staff were affected in what it described as a “reorganisation exercise.”
In a statement, the refinery accused PENGASSAN and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of prioritising “union dues and personal interests over workers’ welfare.”
The crisis escalated when the Industrial Court on Monday declared the strike illegal and ordered its immediate suspension. Still, PENGASSAN members continued picketing offices and depots by midweek, keeping many facilities grounded.
Pump prices have already gone up. In Abuja, independent marketers sold petrol at N910 per litre, compared to N890 at NNPC outlets, while in Lagos some stations adjusted to N841 per litre.
To ease supply, Dangote Refinery confirmed that partners such as MRS Oil Nigeria Plc had started selling fuel at N841 in Lagos and N851 in Abuja. The company also said its new fleet of compressed natural gas-powered trucks was moving products across the country.
An industry source told our reporter: “Our production is not disturbed by the strike. Yes, MRS and other lead partners are selling at N841 in Lagos and N851 in Abuja.”
The Federal Government has stepped in to mediate between the union and the refinery. Officials warned that prolonged disruptions could derail efforts to stabilise fuel supply and worsen Nigeria’s fragile economy.
For now, motorists fear higher transport fares if the crisis lingers. Analysts say the situation shows how vulnerable Nigeria remains to disputes between labour unions and major industry players.