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 other stakeholders to step in and resolve the escalating conflict between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also called for urgent intervention, accusing the Dangote Refinery of engaging in anti-labour practices.
Background of the Dispute
Tensions rose after NUPENG announced on Friday that it would begin a nationwide strike on Monday, September 8, in protest against what it described as anti-union policies at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The conflict centers around the refinery’s plan to import 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retail outlets. Although the launch was originally scheduled for August 15, it was delayed due to logistics issues in China. However, the refinery said operations would begin once a significant number of trucks had arrived.
In a joint statement released Friday by NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union alleged that the Dangote Group had refused to allow drivers of the new trucks to join any trade union, particularly NUPENG’s Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch.
The union described the move as a violation of workers’ rights and an attack on the constitutional freedom of association as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as well as a breach of international labour conventions ratified by Nigeria.
Failed Negotiations and Allegations
NUPENG stated that it had held several meetings with the Dangote Group—alongside the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO)—to resolve the matter amicably. However, these efforts were allegedly ignored.
The situation escalated last Friday when MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a company reportedly owned by Sayyu Aliu Dantata, a cousin of Aliko Dangote, allegedly began recruiting drivers for the incoming CNG trucks. According to NUPENG, these drivers were being forced to sign agreements barring them from joining any oil and gas union.
NUPENG warned that it would not tolerate actions that threaten the job security of its members and the structure of unionised labour in the sector.
“We cannot stand by while our members’ jobs and rights are being eroded,” the union said.
It has now issued an ultimatum, threatening a nationwide shutdown of fuel loading operations from Monday, September 8, if the issue is not addressed.
