The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction preventing the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its affiliates from embarking on strike action against Dangote Refinery.
Justice E.D. Subilim gave the order on Wednesday after the refinery’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria George Ibrahim, filed an ex-parte motion dated September 15, 2025. The judge restrained NUPENG, its members, and representatives from blocking roads or shutting down the refinery’s operations for seven days, pending the hearing of a substantive motion.
The ruling marks the latest twist in the ongoing clash between Dangote Refinery and labour unions, which has dominated national discourse in recent weeks. NUPENG, supported by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), had accused the refinery of anti-labour practices and attempts to stifle competition in the oil sector.
Aliko Dangote, chairman of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, strongly denied the allegations at a recent media briefing, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
Earlier this month, on September 8, NUPENG and its allied unions disrupted nationwide fuel distribution, forcing the Federal Government to intervene. With negotiations collapsing soon after, the union threatened a fresh strike—an action now paused by the court’s temporary order.
The case will return to court for a full hearing on the motion on notice, where the judge will decide whether to extend or lift the injunction. Until then, the refinery has secured a legal lifeline against potential disruption.