Across Abuja on Monday, several filling stations hiked pump prices. Ranoil and Empire outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway adjusted prices to between N910 and N920 per litre, up from last week’s N890–N910 range.
The price of petrol has jumped again as the face-off between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) drags on, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Across Abuja on Monday, several filling stations hiked pump prices. Ranoil and Empire outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway adjusted prices to between N910 and N920 per litre, up from last week’s N890–N910 range.
The hike followed PENGASSAN’s declaration that its nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery — which began on Monday — would continue until the company reinstated workers allegedly sacked for union activities.
“All comrades are therefore directed to continue with the industrial action until further instruction,” PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Ighotemu, said in a directive to members.
A closed-door meeting convened by the Nigerian government with Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN later on Monday night ended in a deadlock, further compounding the crisis.
Confirming the outcome, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, told reporters in the early hours of Tuesday that the dialogue produced no progress.
Despite the disruptions, Dangote Refinery — Africa’s largest with a 650,000-barrels-per-day capacity — has refused to back down, maintaining its position on the dismissals.
The company has not revealed the number of employees affected but has also not denied carrying out the sackings.
In solidarity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) joined PENGASSAN, crippling activities at the NNPCL, NUPRC, and NMDPRA offices in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) linked the price surge to panic buying triggered by the dispute.
“It is the anxiety created by the face-off between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN. This has resulted in panic buying, which shot up the fuel prices,” IPMAN President, Abubakar Maigandi, said, warning of more hardship for Nigerians unless the government acted swiftly.
On the legal front, Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from continuing its strike.
But the union brushed it off, insisting it was unaware of any such court process.
Over the weekend, Dangote Refinery accused the union of employing “bully and terror tactics.” PENGASSAN dismissed the accusation, insisting it was acting within its constitutional rights.
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