The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to intervene in the recent face-off between members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, which had disrupted petroleum product distribution nationwide.

The resolution of the House followed the consideration and adoption of a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by Kano and Sokoto lawmakers, Alhassan Doguwa and Abdussamad Dasuki, respectively, at Tuesday’s plenary.

Titled: ‘Need to protect private investment from adversarial unionism’, the lawmakers drew the attention of their colleagues to the significance of the Dangote Refinery, describing it as the largest private petroleum refinery in Africa.

The face-off between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery led to an industrial action which commenced on 29 September 2025, disrupting the operations at the $20 billion refinery.

It also led to a disruption in Nigeria’s crude oil production, with a reported daily loss of approximately 200,000 barrels over three days.

The disruption worsened the petroleum supply situation across the country, resulting in scarcity and long queues at filling stations in several states, resulting in severe hardship for millions of Nigerians.

Speaking on the motion, Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Kano State, stressed the need to protect the Dangote Refinery given its strategic significance to the nation’s economy.

He said, ‘The House is aware that the Dangote Refinery is a strategic private investment of immense national importance, with the potential to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, generate employment, and conserve foreign exchange.

‘We are aware that the Dangote Refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone, and therefore falls under the regulatory framework of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, particularly Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act which clearly states that ‘Employment in the free zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to the provisions of any enactments relating to employment matters’.

‘The House is concerned that actions by labour unions that disregard the legal protections conferred on Free Zones under the NEPZA Act not only constitute a breach of law but also create a hostile investment environment that may deter future local and foreign investors;

‘We are worried that if private investments of strategic national importance are continually subjected to unlawful disruptions by adversarial unionism, Nigeria risks not only the failure of key economic assets but also the erosion of investor confidence necessary for national growth and development’.

In his contribution, the member representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, Ahmad Jaha, urged the House to tread carefully, adding that the call for a probe as prayed by the motion was ill-timed.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged its leadership to broker peace between the two parties in the interest of the nation.

It also urged the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, as well as Justice, to ‘Jointly develop and implement a national framework or set of policies to safeguard private investments of strategic national importance from adversarial and unlawful union actions’.

It further charged the Federal Ministry of Justice and NEPZA to ensure full enforcement and compliance with the provisions of Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act in all relevant Free Zone operations.

Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has confirmed that he remains in custody at the Kuje Prison, a day after his arrest during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja.

Ejimakor via a post on his 𝕏 handle on Tuesday,assured supporters of his safety but expressed concern over the handling of his case.

“I am safe and sound but still under custody at Kuje prison. The Magistrate refused to listen to our submissions. He insisted on remanding us till Friday and got his way,” he wrote.

The human rights lawyer also claims that the authorities deliberately chose a particular court in Kuje to arraign him instead of other magistrates courts within Abuja.

“For context: Keep in mind that they bypassed several Magistrate courts in town and headed to this one in Kuje,” Ejimakor stated.

Recall a magistrate court sitting in Kuje, FCT Abuja,remanded the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in Kuje prison.

The remand followed their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday in Abuja.

Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kanuta Kanu, disclosed this in a post on X, shortly after the court session on Tuesday.

“The magistrate seating in Kuje remanded Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his youngest brother. This is a conspiracy from the executive, legislature and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday,” Kanuta Kanu posted on X.

Earlier, the Nigeria Police arraigned Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor and his brother Prince Emmanuel Kanu and 10 others following the protest in Abuja on Monday.

The court document to this effect was shared by former National Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, HRCN, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, via X on Tuesday.

The police charged them for inciting disturbance and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order. According to the document, the suspects were accused of denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The Senate on Tuesday, confirmed the appointment of Dr Aminu Yusuf as Chairman, Kigbun Haruna and Tonga Bularafa as Commissioners of National Population Commission (NPC).

Yusuf represents Niger, while Huruna and Bularafa represent Nasarawa State and Yobe in the board of NPC respectively.

Their confirmation followed consideration and adoption of report of the Committee on National Identity and National Population at plenary, as presented by its Chairman, Sen.Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra).

Umeh in his report said that the nominees were found eligible and possessing the educational qualification required for appointment as chairman and commissioners of NPC.

He said that there was no petition or incriminating report against any of the nominees from either the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) or Department of State Security Service (DSS).

According to Umeh, the nominees demonstrated efficient knowledge of Nigerian demography, saying that they were prepared for the task ahead.

He urged the senate to confirm their appointment.