NNPC laments losses as union halts action

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has raised concerns over the crude oil and gas production losses caused by the three-day strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Ojulari revealed that the strike led to a 16% reduction in oil production, 30% in marketed gas, and a 20% shortfall in power supply across the country.

The correspondence, dated September 29, 2025, and titled “Impact Assessment of Ongoing Industrial Action,” was also sent to the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.

The strike, which arose from a dispute between the union and the Dangote Refinery, forced the shutdown of key oil terminals, gas plants, and power facilities. This resulted in the deferment of 283,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 1.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily, cutting off vital income streams from Nigeria’s top revenue sources.

Meanwhile, the union’s leadership has announced the suspension of its nationwide strike against Dangote Petroleum Refinery after the intervention of the Federal Government. However, it stressed that the truce remains temporary and could be revisited if unresolved issues persist.

The dispute began after PENGASSAN accused the refinery of mass redeployments and dismissal of union members, as well as allegedly replacing some Nigerian workers with foreign nationals — allegations the refinery has consistently denied.