The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has accused the chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, of sabotaging the Nigerian economy.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the row between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery escalated on Sunday, September 28, 2025, after the union directed all its members across the country to withdraw their services, following the reported sack of at least 800 workers.

The development, union leaders said, amounted to a direct attack on workers’ rights and the freedom of association, following the mass enrollment of staff in PENGASSAN at the refinery.

The refinery’s management, however, insists that the dismissals were part of an internal restructuring exercise.

The company also resisted unionisation efforts by its workers, sparking accusations of anti-labour practices.

Speaking on the ongoing rift, Osifo, during an interview on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, said Dangote is Sabotaging Nigeria’s economy despite benefiting from the country.

He said, “The person that is sabotaging our economy is Aliko Dangote. The man is who he is today because of Nigeria.

“Nigeria gave Dangote a single licence to import flour, sugar and salt.

“Dangote built his refinery with our money; the Nigerian government subsidised FX for him to build the refinery.”