PENGASSAN Strike Paralyzes Nigeria’s Oil Sector, NNPC, NUPRC, NMDPRA Operations Halted

The nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has brought operations at key oil and gas regulatory bodies—including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)—to a standstill.

Reports indicate that the main gate of the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja was securely locked, leaving numerous employees stranded outside. Security personnel confirmed that staff access was restricted in compliance with the union’s strike directive. Similarly, activities at the NMDPRA were suspended as workers fully adhered to the industrial action.

PENGASSAN’s Chairman at the NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, stated that the union achieved “100 percent compliance,” effectively barring entry to both staff and visitors. He further confirmed that this level of compliance was enforced across the NNPCL and other relevant agencies.

The union attributed the strike to the alleged wrongful dismissal of approximately 800 employees at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. PENGASSAN’s decision to suspend crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery has sent shockwaves through the nation’s energy sector, with industry experts warning of potential disruptions in fuel distribution and supply chains.