In response to worries about the Naira-for-crude oil deal and conflicts surrounding the Dangote Refinery, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) promised Nigerians on Sunday that the supply of refined petroleum products would not be disrupted.
The government emphasised that energy security and stability in the downstream oil industry remained a high priority in a statement released by the Ministry of Finance following a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Domestic Crude Oil and Refined Products Sales in Local Currency Initiative.
The recent rumours that the Dangote Refinery had suspended the Naira-for-crude oil transaction had been “amicably resolved,” according to the committee, which was chaired by Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the committee reassured that the crude oil for the Naira initiative will continue,” the statement continued. Additionally, it guaranteed that all unresolved matters, especially the conflict between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, are being handled promptly and honestly.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, who also chairs the Technical Committee, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Afreximbank, and the Dangote Refinery were also in attendance, along with Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.
Nigerians shouldn’t anticipate shortages or pricing volatility, the government emphasised.
The statement said, “The Federal Government is still totally committed to protecting consumers, ensuring energy security, and preserving stability in the domestic petroleum products market.”
The committee aimed to allay growing public fears of another fuel crisis by reaffirming the continuation of its local currency crude oil sales project and resolving worker issues.
The Dangote refinery reportedly said that it has started selling fuel in naira again.
The refinery attributed this to the naira-for-crude technical committee’s intervention in a memo delivered to marketers on Saturday, a copy of which our correspondent was able to obtain.
We are happy to notify you that PMS sales in Naira would resume immediately following the involvement of the chairman of the Naira for Crude Technical Committee.
For both self-collection and free delivery of PMS to the previously suggested places throughout the nation, please proceed to place your orders in naira. We appreciate your ongoing business,” the memo said.
The refinery said in a previous letter on Friday that it will no longer sell petrol in naira starting on Sunday, September 28, 2025, due to the depletion of its crude-for-naira allocation.
Nonetheless, it was claimed that the disagreements had been settled by the Federal Government committee overseeing the naira-for-crude transaction.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria reportedly told its members all throughout the country to quit their jobs after Dangote Refinery allegedly fired more than 800 Nigerian employees in a mass firing.
The union accused the refinery of dismissing workers for joining the association in violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and the conventions of the International Labour Organisation in a circular signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa and released following an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
The refinery replaced the fired employees with “more than 2,000 Indians,” according to the NEC, which called the move “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
In order to enforce its demands, PENGASSAN announced a complete nationwide shutdown of all offices, businesses, institutions, and agencies starting Monday and instructed members in field locations to stop using their tools starting Sunday.
The NEC further declared that the walkout would continue until the fired employees were reinstated, called for government involvement, and organised 24-hour prayer vigils.
However, the Federal Government’s intervention could result in the strike being called off.
