Court Bars NUPENG from Blocking roads, shutting down Dangote Refinery
The National Industrial Court has issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from embarking on strike action or disrupting the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the order on Wednesday following an ex parte application filed by George Ibrahim, counsel to the refinery. The ruling prohibits NUPENG and other drivers’ unions from blocking highways, halting petroleum distribution, or coercing truck drivers into joining an industrial action.
Ibrahim had urged the court to prevent the union from frustrating petroleum trucking services, arguing that disruption at this stage could cause “irreparable damage” to the refinery and the wider public. He filed the application alongside an originating process and a motion on notice dated September 15.
Supporting the application, Ahmed Hashem, group general manager for government and strategic relations at the refinery, submitted an affidavit in which the applicants pledged to indemnify the respondents should the court later rule against the restraining request.
In his decision, Justice Subilim held that the court was satisfied that the matter raised “a serious issue to be tried” and that the balance of convenience tilted in favour of the refinery. He ruled that interim protection was necessary to prevent harm pending a full hearing of the case.
The injunction will remain in force for seven days. The judge directed that the respondents be served with the motion on notice and other court processes within the same period.
Justice Subilim further noted that the court’s authority to sit during the ongoing vacation would expire on September 23. He therefore ordered that the case file be reassigned by the president of the National Industrial Court to another judge, who will hear both the motion on notice and the substantive suit.
