Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has cautioned that Nigeria would be ridiculed on the world stage if disagreements disrupt operations at the Dangote Refinery.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Governor Sule called for urgent dialogue among the refinery management, unions, and the federal government to stem rising tensions.
“There’s been a breakdown in communication,” Sule remarked.
“PENGASSAN and Dangote must sit at the same table, we cannot allow such a critical institution to run down. The world will laugh at us.”
Sule emphasized that the refinery is far more than a private enterprise, it is a national asset.
He noted that the facility has spared Nigeria exorbitant costs tied to maintenance and petroleum importation.
“This refinery belongs to Nigeria, not just Dangote,” he said.
“It has rescued us from many challenges. We should no longer fear issues with fertilizer and petrochemicals.”
The governor appealed for peace among the involved parties, urging PENGASSAN, Dangote management, and the federal government to collaboratively resolve the conflict.
“The Dangote Refinery is here to stay, it already exports products abroad. We cannot afford disruption,” he added.
Addressing allegations of mass dismissals, Sule defended the refinery’s operations.
“Dangote didn’t wake up one day and sack workers en masse. He needs workforce to run the operations,” he stated, adding that the company employs thousands and that union actions should not misinterpret management’s decisions.
The standoff is largely rooted in a dispute over gas supply cuts. Governor Sule warned that such disruptions could cripple refinery activity.
“It’s devastating. In the sugar sector, pipes rusted due to inactivity. We must avoid the same for Dangote,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN has mobilized protests over the alleged dismissal of over 800 Nigerian staff at Dangote.
Union members even barricaded several petroleum regulatory offices in Abuja, demanding redress.
In its response, Dangote denied violations, claiming the restructuring was for safety and efficiency. It affirmed that only a limited number of its 3,000 Nigerian staff were affected and pointed to the injunction obtained restraining PENGASSAN from engaging in strikes against the refinery.
On Monday, the National Industrial Court, led by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, placed an interim injunction preventing PENGASSAN from blockading or striking at Dangote.
The judge reasoned that preserving industrial peace outweighed potential union actions. A follow‑up hearing is slated for 13 October 2025.
At the same time, the Federal Government stepped in, calling on all parties to pause hostilities and convene in Abuja for emergency talks.
Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi appealed for calm and urged the union to retract its strike notice.
