Petroleum Marketers, Labour Unions Clash with Dangote Refinery as NUPENG Threatens Nationwide Strike

Tensions are rising in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and key stakeholders to urgently intervene in a dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also waded in, accusing the refinery of entrenched anti-labour practices.

The conflict stems from Dangote Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks for direct fuel distribution. Originally slated to begin operations on August 15 but delayed by logistics challenges in China, the scheme will bypass existing tanker drivers once launched. NUPENG, in a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, warned that this threatens the livelihoods of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch members. The union accused the refinery of insisting that drivers of the new trucks must not join any trade union, describing it as a violation of the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.

The situation escalated further after reports emerged that MRS, owned by Dangote’s cousin, Sayyu Dantata, had begun recruiting drivers for the trucks and compelling them to sign undertakings not to belong to oil and gas unions. NUPENG has now threatened to halt nationwide fuel loading beginning Monday, September 8, if the dispute is not resolved.

PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, described the looming strike as a “danger” that must be prevented, urging the President, the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS, and regulatory authorities to bring all parties to the table before Monday. IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed that marketers are working to reconcile the two sides, stressing that disruptions in fuel supply must be avoided.

The NLC, however, has thrown its full weight behind NUPENG, accusing the Dangote Group of “crude and dangerous” practices that undermine workers’ rights across its operations in oil, cement, sugar, and flour. It warned that left unchecked, such anti-union policies could embolden corporations to disregard Nigerian labour laws. “The attack on NUPENG is an attack on us all. Nigerian workers are not slaves and cannot be serially abused without consequences” said NLC President, Joe Ajaero. The congress pledged to mobilise workers nationwide in solidarity with NUPENG’s planned strike.

While IPMAN’s South-West zone has already declared readiness to shut down operations in solidarity, the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association distanced itself from the strike, insisting drivers must be free to choose the associations that best serve their interests.

With NUPENG standing firm and marketers warning of severe supply disruptions, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to broker a truce and avert what could become a nationwide fuel crisis. Efforts to reach the Dangote Refinery for comment on Saturday were unsuccessful.