30 September 2025-Published by Cyril

Nigerians are now paying more for premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, after a crucial meeting between the Federal Government, Dangote Refinery, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ended in a deadlock.

The closed-door meeting, held in Abuja on Monday, failed to resolve the lingering dispute over the mass sack of workers at Dangote Refinery. PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, confirmed the deadlock in the early hours of Tuesday, insisting that the union’s strike would continue.

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A NaijaBlogDaily correspondent who monitored filling stations across Abuja observed immediate fuel price increases. At Ranoil and Empire stations in Gwarimpa, as well as Ranoil along the Kubwa Expressway, petrol pump prices jumped to ₦910–₦920 per litre, up from ₦890–₦910.

In an official directive, PENGASSAN Secretary, Lumumba Ighotemu, urged members nationwide to sustain the strike until further notice. He warned that only official union communication should be considered authentic, dismissing reports of any suspension.

The union is demanding the reinstatement of workers allegedly sacked by Dangote Refinery for belonging to PENGASSAN. Although the refinery has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees, it has not denied carrying out the dismissals.

The standoff has already spread across the sector. On Monday, PENGASSAN shut down operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) offices in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja granted an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from striking. Despite this, the union has vowed to press on, stating that it was not officially informed of any court action.

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) President, Abubakar Maigandi, blamed the sudden hike in pump prices on panic buying fueled by the dispute. He urged the Federal Government to step in urgently to prevent further hardship.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, acknowledged that the feud between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN must be resolved for the good of workers, employers, and Nigerians already battling economic strain.

As the strike drags on, experts warn that a prolonged deadlock could worsen the fuel scarcity crisis, trigger fresh inflationary pressure, and cripple critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

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