Tension is rising across Nigeria’s petroleum industry as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) prepares to begin an indefinite strike on Monday, September 8, over alleged anti-labour practices at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have called for urgent presidential intervention, warning that the planned strike could cripple fuel distribution nationwide.
The Root of the Dispute
At the centre of the conflict is Dangote Refinery’s controversial plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution.
According to NUPENG, refinery owner Aliko Dangote has refused to allow the recruited drivers to join any trade union. The union insists this is a direct violation of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and international conventions on workers’ rights.
NUPENG leaders Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale stated that despite repeated attempts to dialogue with Dangote and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), their appeals were ignored. Matters worsened when MRS Oil Nigeria, controlled by Dangote’s cousin Sayyu Aliu Dantata, allegedly recruited drivers for the new trucks under strict conditions forbidding union membership.
Stakeholders Raise Alarm
PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, urged President Bola Tinubu, security agencies, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to step in immediately.
“It’s a looming danger. We should not allow a monopoly to endanger workers and create anti-competitive values,” he cautioned.
On his part, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed that oil marketers would continue mediation efforts. “We are still appealing to both sides to reconcile their differences,” he said.
Labour Congress Stands with NUPENG
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajaero, accused the Dangote Group of “crude and dangerous” labour practices.
The NLC cited widespread complaints from other sectors of Dangote’s empire, including cement, sugar, and flour. It alleged low wages, unsafe conditions, and discriminatory hiring policies that favour foreign workers over Nigerians.
Ajaero declared: “The attack on NUPENG is an attack on all workers. Nigerian workers are not slaves.”
IPMAN Western Zone and Drivers Division
Meanwhile, the IPMAN Western Zone announced readiness to support NUPENG’s strike, noting that Dangote’s distribution plans contravened the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which prohibits refiners from directly selling fuel.
However, the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) rejected the strike call, insisting that drivers have the right to choose their affiliations and backing the government’s deregulation agenda.
A Nation on Edge
With the strike deadline looming, Nigerians fear disruptions in fuel supply that could trigger scarcity and price hikes. The federal government faces mounting pressure to resolve the impasse before Monday.
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