Nigerian govt must protect Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN strike is anti-people – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called on the Federal Government to protect the Dangote Refinery from what it described as the “excesses” of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.
PENGASSAN had on Monday, September 29, 2025, declared a nationwide strike over allegations of the mass dismissal of about 800 Nigerian workers at the refinery.
But in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC urged oil workers to “leave Dangote Refinery alone,” accusing the union’s leadership of putting the welfare of more than 250 million Nigerians in jeopardy because of “an infinitesimal minority.”
“In our candid opinion, this strike is absolutely unnecessary. It appears there are other hidden motives,” Mr Akintola said.
He argued that PENGASSAN should have considered the impact on ordinary Nigerians, recalling years of fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and the inflationary impact of rising fuel costs.
MURIC described the strike as “narrow-minded, parochial and unpatriotic,” noting that Nigerians across different sectors had expressed disapproval.
The group cited examples of other unions — including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which does not interfere in the operations of private universities; the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, which does not meddle in private bus companies; and the National Union of Teachers, NUT, which does not disrupt private schools.
The organisation maintained that Dangote Refinery should be treated as a priority project, pointing to its role in stabilising the naira, lowering petrol prices, creating jobs and boosting Nigeria’s image internationally.
According to Mr Akintola, the impact of the refinery is already being felt globally. He noted that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, had confirmed that Dangote’s output is displacing European refineries that previously serviced the Nigerian market.
“The fact that this refinery has been able to bring the price of petrol down should also be considered. This is a factor that can assist FG in controlling Nigeria’s inflation,” he said.
Mr Akintola stressed that it was “unthinkable” for a Nigerian who invested $23 billion in a 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery to face such opposition from a union, describing PENGASSAN’s stance as sabotage.
“MURIC therefore calls on FG to cut the wings of extremist union leaders. Times like this call for strong leadership. FG must be decisive,” he added.
The group said PENGASSAN’s leadership had endangered the welfare of Nigerians for the sake of fewer than 1,000 refinery workers.
“This strike is anti-people. Leave Dangote alone,” the statement concluded
