The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has issued a directive asking all members of its staff to shut down all operations and activities at the nation’s oil rigs and export terminals.
In a statement issued by PENGASSAN, all its members are to withdraw all forms of services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies, commencing midnight on Sunday, April 19, the PUNCH reported.
The association disclosed that the action was induced by the persistent reluctance of the Rivers State Government to release detained 21 offshore ExxonMobil staff since Thursday.
PENGASSAN in the statement said,
“The Federal Government and relevant authorities have failed to secure the release of these 21 comrades on legitimate national assignment, the leadership of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria have no other option regrettably than to direct all our members to commence the withdrawal of services as follows:
“By midnight Sunday 19th April 2020, all Export facilities will stop operation as well as suspension of Production & Maintenance Services Reports.
“That by 12 noon on Monday 20th April all our members will withdraw all forms of services relating to crude oil production, refining, distribution and supplies.”
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Sanwo-Olu To Relax Buhari’s Lockdown Order In Lagos State
The Herald earlier reported that PENGASSAN accused Rivers state government of oppressing oil and gas workers under the pretext of combatting COVID-19 Pandemic.
This is coming after 22 staff members of ExxonMobil were detained by security operatives for violating the lockdown order imposed by Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Herald recalls that 2 Pilots of Caverton Helicopters were also arrested last week for flying in oil expatriates into the state on the order of Governor Wike.
PENGASSAN has therefore accused Wike’s administration of sabotaging Oil and gas workers in the guise of mitigating the spread of Coronavirus despite the exemption of the oil and gas the sector from the lockdown.