National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has assumed the role of chief conciliator in the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery.

The intervention comes after initial reconciliation talks convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, which began on Monday afternoon and stretched into the early hours of Tuesday without reaching any meaningful resolution.

As of 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, critical stakeholders from the oil and gas sector had begun arriving at the NSA’s office near the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where the peace meeting is scheduled to take place. Among those present were PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, and the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, alongside other labour leaders.

Officials at both the Labour Ministry and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed that Ribadu’s direct involvement became necessary due to the escalating impact of the nationwide strike, which has already disrupted key institutions and raised concerns about broader security risks.

“This strike is already causing a big problem across the country. In fact, it could snowball into a major security challenge if not resolved quickly. The NSA, as coordinator of all security agencies, has a duty to be proactive in preventing any looming crisis,” a senior ONSA official told Daily Trust.

The meeting aims to secure an immediate truce and restore stability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which has been crippled by the industrial action.