The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged restraint over sweeping sabotage claims in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The union said issues raised by Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, should be clearly broken down and handled through strong institutions rather than personal accusations.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made the call during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday. He reacted to Dangote’s allegations of sabotage, regulatory failures, and his demand for a probe into the former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.
Dangote recently alleged that Ahmed spent about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland. He called for a full investigation and a public explanation of the payments.
Osifo warned that using the term “sabotage” without a clear definition could damage the sector. He said such claims must be carefully explained and supported with facts.
“The word sabotage is very huge. What should have been done is to deconstruct it and open it up,” Osifo said.
He added that vague accusations could create uncertainty across the industry. According to him, stakeholders must clearly identify who is responsible for specific actions and how those actions affect operations.
Institutions must come before individuals
Osifo stressed that Nigeria must prioritise strong institutions over individual blame. He said regulators should function independently and support industry growth while enforcing the law.
“As a country, we must build institutions and not individuals. We need strong and solid regulators who can help businesses grow and also ensure compliance,” he said.
He pointed to the NMDPRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as key agencies that must remain firm and credible.
Osifo described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a national achievement and a source of pride. However, he said its success depends on cooperation with government agencies.
“There must be synergy between the refinery’s management and government institutions. Regulators must support the refinery, while operators must recognise that they have to work with regulators,” he said.
On the controversy involving the former NMDPRA boss, Osifo said the matter should not be reduced to an individual issue. He noted that regulatory heads operate within government structures.
“Engineer Farouk reports to the Minister of Petroleum. Anyone in that position will not act clearly outside what the President has directed,” he said.
Osifo also acknowledged competing interests in the downstream sector. He said Dangote wants to halt fuel imports, while importers continue to defend their role. Regulators, he added, must balance both positions to protect energy security.
Call for minister-led alignment of interests
Osifo said the Minister of Petroleum Resources remains best placed to align these competing interests. He urged the minister to bring all stakeholders together.
“One person can align all these interests for the benefit of the industry and Nigerians. That person is the Minister of Petroleum Resources,” he said.
Dangote had earlier alleged that criminal networks within the oil and gas sector deliberately targeted his refinery. Speaking on December 14 at the Lekki facility, he stated that theft and sabotage had cost the refinery approximately $82 million.
He claimed saboteurs removed a critical spare part from a 400-ton boiler while it was still in operation. Dangote said the refinery now employs more security personnel than production staff.
He accused what he described as an “oil mafia” of working against domestic refining. According to him, both local marketers and international traders prefer imports and are resisting local production.
Osifo concluded by calling for broad stakeholder engagement. He said government, regulators, and industry players must jointly address sector challenges.
“All stakeholders must sit down, discuss the issues, and take concrete decisions that will benefit over 230 million Nigerians,” he said.