An Abuja court halts NUPENG and truck drivers from striking or blocking operations at Dangote Refinery.
The interim injunction aims to prevent disruption and irreparable damage pending a full hearing.
The National Industrial Court in Abuja has granted an interim injunction stopping the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on strike action, blocking roads, or disrupting operations at the Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.
Justice E.D. Subilim delivered the ruling on Wednesday after hearing a motion ex parte filed by George Ibrahim SAN, counsel to the refinery. The judge held that failing to grant the order could cause irreparable harm to the refinery and its operations.
Ibrahim had sought interim orders restraining NUPENG and its affiliates from compelling drivers to join any industrial action or obstructing the refinery’s business activities pending the hearing of a substantive motion. He argued that NUPENG’s planned actions violated Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as well as provisions of the Trade Union Act.
Supporting the application, Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager of Government and Strategic Relations at Dangote Refinery, deposed an affidavit and gave an undertaking to cover damages if the injunction was later found to be wrongly granted.
Justice Subilim ruled that there was a serious issue to be tried, that the balance of convenience favored the refinery, and that irreparable damage could result without the interim relief.
The court therefore ordered:
- NUPENG is restrained from calling or compelling drivers to join any strike or industrial action aimed at blocking roads or obstructing refinery operations.
- The Drivers Association is restrained from joining or participating in any strike against the refinery or its partners.
The interim orders are to remain in effect for seven days. The court also directed that the respondents be served with the motion on notice and all accompanying documents within that period.
Since the court’s vacation session ends on September 23, 2025, Justice Subilim ordered the case file to be reassigned by the President of the National Industrial Court to another judge for further hearing on the substantive matter.
