The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), preventing the union from embarking on any industrial action that could disrupt operations at the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
Justice E. D. Sublim granted the interim injunction after hearing an ex parte application filed by Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Ltd, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd. The order also restrains the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from joining any strike that could obstruct the activities of the companies until the substantive case is determined.
According to a Certified True Copy of the ruling dated September 17 and signed by Senior Registrar Rufai Zainab Ahmed, the court found that “irreparable damage may occur if the necessary orders are not granted.”
The applicants accused NUPENG and the trucking association of plotting an industrial action aimed at crippling refinery operations. They argued that the strike, if allowed, would cause nationwide disruption in the supply of petroleum products at a time when the Dangote Refinery is seen as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy sector.
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In case number NICN/ABJ/279/2024, the plaintiffs filed and argued their motion on September 15, seeking urgent judicial protection. Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Sublim ruled that “the balance of convenience favors the applicants,” noting that the potential damage to the refinery and the economy outweighed the union’s strike plans.
The court therefore granted an interim injunction restraining NUPENG from taking any action, directly or through proxies, that could obstruct the refinery’s operations. The judge emphasized that the case raised serious issues to be tried and warranted immediate protective orders.
The Dangote Refinery, commissioned in 2023, is Africa’s largest single-train refinery and is expected to transform Nigeria from a fuel importer to a net exporter. Any disruption to its operations, analysts warn, could destabilize fuel supply and trigger economic setbacks.
This ruling marks a significant victory for Dangote Industries and its partners, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in shielding strategic national assets from industrial disputes. The case will continue at the National Industrial Court, where both parties are expected to argue their positions on the legality of the planned strike.
