The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has blamed decades of political interference, corruption, and policy instability for the persistent failure of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.
The association insisted that the collapse of the facilities was not due to a lack of technical expertise among Nigerians, but rather the deliberate denial of workers’ access to tools, resources, and the enabling environment needed to keep the refineries functional.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, stated this on Friday at the ongoing 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit (PEALS 2025) in Abuja, with the theme: “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.”
According to him, corruption and mismanagement have crippled the energy sector, while frequent changes in petroleum laws have discouraged investors from putting money into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
“Our problem is not about skilled manpower. During COVID-19, Nigerian workers successfully ran offshore platforms after expatriates left. The expertise is here. What we lack is consistency in policies and the political will to allow professionals to deliver,” Osifo said.
He warned that constant tinkering with fiscal regimes has continued to scare away investors and hinder long-term infrastructure development.
“We must build a sector investors can predict in five or ten years. Unstable policies and political interference only chase away petrodollars and delay sectoral growth,” he added.
Osifo further stressed the need for regular capacity building for Nigerian oil workers to enable them remain globally competitive in a rapidly changing energy market.
In his goodwill message, the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, praised PENGASSAN for creating a platform for strategic dialogue in the industry, urging other labour unions to emulate the initiative.
Toro maintained that constructive engagement and innovation were vital to advancing workers’ welfare and strengthening collective bargaining power.
Nigeria’s four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna have remained moribund for years despite billions of naira reportedly spent on turnaround maintenance. The government has continued to rely on imported petroleum products to meet local demand.
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