A court has restrained NUPENG from striking or blocking operations at Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil, citing risks of irreparable damage.
The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on strike action or disrupting operations of Dangote Refinery and MRS Oil companies.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the order on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, SAN, on behalf of the refinery.
The court barred the unions from blocking Nigerian roads or compelling other drivers to join any strike, stressing that “irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders are not granted.”
The injunction, which will last seven days pending further hearing, directs NUPENG to maintain petroleum trucking services to the refinery and the public. Justice Subilim ruled that Dangote Refinery had raised “a serious issue to be tried” and ordered service of all court processes to the union within a week.
The ruling follows renewed tension after NUPENG accused MRS Oil founder Sayyu Dantata of violating agreements on workers’ rights, prompting threats of a nationwide strike.