Fuel prices have surged in parts of Nigeria after a high-level meeting between the Federal Government, Dangote Refinery, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ended in deadlock.
The talks, held on Monday in Abuja and chaired by the Minister of Labour, Muhammad Dingyadi, failed to produce a resolution. PENGASSAN president Festus Osifo confirmed the outcome, saying the negotiations had “ended in deadlock.”
Following the stalemate, petrol pump prices jumped in several filling stations across Abuja. Ranoil and Empire outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway adjusted prices to between N910 and N920 per litre, compared with the previous N890 to N910 range.
The price hike comes amid PENGASSAN’s nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery, which the union accuses of unlawfully sacking workers for belonging to the association. Although the company has not revealed how many staff were dismissed, it has not denied carrying out the layoffs.
In a directive issued late Monday, PENGASSAN told its members to continue the strike until further notice, urging them to ignore any information outside its official channels. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have also joined the action, intensifying pressure on Dangote Refinery.
The strike has spread to regulatory offices in Abuja, grounding operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Dangote Refinery, however, secured an interim injunction from the National Industrial Court in Abuja, restraining PENGASSAN from continuing the strike. But the union insists it is unaware of the ruling and maintains its action is lawful.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) linked the sudden surge in fuel prices to panic buying driven by the uncertainty. Its president, Abubakar Maigandi, urged the government to quickly intervene before the situation worsens.
