Fuel Queues To Resurface As PENGASSAN Stops Gas Supply To Dangote Refinery
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
From all-indications, the ongoing face-off between the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals is far from over, as the association directed its members on Saturday to cut gas supply to the refinery.
PENGASSAN was sad over the unjust termination of over 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service it said have been integral to the operations of the plant.
The association explained that instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, the Management of the Dangote refinery has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom lack valid immigration documentation.
It therefore called on the Management of the refinery to recall all the terminated Nigerian workers, failure of which it warned would result in exploring all available instruments to force the shift.
In response to PENGASSAN, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery yesterday clarified that the ongoing reorganisation of the refinery was being undertaken to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.
It noted that the decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as a result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.
However, in a letter by its General Secretary, on Saturday, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the PENGASSAN instructed its Branch Chairmen to cut gas supply to the refinery in reaction to the disengagement of the workers.
“They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong. Consequent to these, you hereby directed to cut off gas supply to NGIC effective immediately. All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut. The loading operation for vessels headed there should be halted immediately.
“Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) Chairman, ensure that gas supply to the Refinery is cut off effective immediately.
“All chairmen on this summon are to report promptly to the progress of the directive,” PENGASSAN directed in the letter.
This may lead to the return of fuel queues if nothing is done to speedily resolve the issues.
