Nigeria’s oil production deplete as Addax workers stop work

By Adeleye Kunle

About 324 Nigerian employees of Addax Petroleum have resumed their strike which was suspended in August.

The development has affected the country’s oil production of around 1 million barrels per day from over 1.5 million in 2021.

The aggrieved oil workers lament the inability of the company and the Federal Government to address anti-labour practices.

The workers are part of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

A statement on Friday said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC) and Addax had refused to address contentious issues.

PENGASSAN Addax Branch Secretary, Ken Olubor complained about anti-labour practices that endangered their safety and security.

Olubor noted that the safety and security of workers have been compromised.

“Addax Izombe facility OML-124 recently suffered an attempted bomb blast incident around staff accommodation area.”

He said employees in the field face increased threats as onshore locations continue to come under siege by armed men.

Olubor said the situation was evident in the recurring high medical bills recorded by the company’s Human Resource Department.

The union also accused Addax of undue elongation of working hours without compensation, prolonged stagnation and lack of promotion since 2019.

Addax is owned by China’s Sinopec Group with four Oil Mining Licences, OML 123, 124, 126 and 137