Operations at the Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) facility in Ota, Ogun State, have been disrupted after protesting workers shut down the site over alleged poor working conditions and unfair labour practices.
The facility, which supplies gas to several industries in the Ota and Agbara industrial corridors, was reportedly closed on Saturday when workers barricaded the entrance as part of an ongoing protest against the management of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo).
Sources said the workers maintained the blockade on Sunday despite the presence of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who were deployed to the facility following a request from the company’s management.
The protest is being driven by workers who accuse the company of engaging in what they described as “modern-day slavery,” citing issues related to salary structure, allowances and overall working conditions.
According to one of the workers, the company has been benchmarking staff salaries against sectors outside the oil and gas industry, a move they believe has resulted in poor remuneration compared to industry standards.
The workers said they had earlier engaged the company’s management in discussions after staging a protest at the company’s headquarters on March 3, 2026. However, they claimed that the meeting did not produce any meaningful outcome.
The protest at the headquarters was coordinated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), during which workers temporarily blocked access to the premises.
Protesters also alleged discrimination in salary structures between Nigerian staff and other categories of workers, as well as the application of a global pay policy that they claim does not take Nigeria’s economic realities into account.
They further criticised what they described as a cost-cutting approach within the organisation, arguing that it has affected staff welfare and participation in industry activities.
Workers also raised concerns over allowances they said are no longer reflective of current economic conditions, citing car grants as an example. According to them, the amount provided is insufficient to purchase a vehicle under current market realities.
In addition, some employees alleged that expatriates are increasingly occupying roles that should ordinarily be handled by qualified Nigerian professionals.
The protesters said the decision to shut down the facility was taken after management allegedly failed to respond adequately to their demands.
They have called on the Federal Government to intervene in the dispute, expressing concern that the situation could worsen if the issues raised are not addressed.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the company were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
