The fragile peace between the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery has broken down, sparking a heated industrial dispute that threatens fuel supply stability and challenges the Federal Government’s capacity to uphold labor agreements.
The conflict arose after NUPENG accused the Dangote Group of reneging on a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this week, which had guaranteed tanker drivers and other workers the right to freely unionize.
On Thursday, NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, accused Sayyu Aliu Dantata—a cousin of Aliko Dangote and a key figure in the refinery’s trucking operations—of violating the agreement reached on September 9 at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, facilitated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, confirmed the rights of Petroleum Tanker Drivers under NUPENG to unionize. Representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), DSS, and other agencies were present to witness the MoU signing.
However, Akporeha claimed that within 48 hours, Dantata instructed drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from their vehicles and forcibly enter the refinery, breaching agreed union loading procedures.
“Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them multiple times in his helicopter and then called in the Federal Republic Navy, seemingly to intimidate union officials. Our members are prepared for any aggressive moves by him and his agents,” Akporeha said in a statement.
The union condemned what it called Dantata’s “brazen disregard” for the agreement and urged the Federal Government to prevent security forces—financed by taxpayers—from being used to suppress workers.
“Wealth does not put anyone above the law. Security personnel should not allow individuals to act with impunity, especially when they themselves facilitated the agreements in these meetings,” Akporeha added.
NUPENG’s leadership has placed its members on “red alert” for a potential nationwide strike, which had been suspended following the MoU’s signing earlier this week. The union also called on the NLC, TUC, civil society groups, and international labor organizations to stand in solidarity.
On Thursday evening, NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, alleged that Dangote management planned to deploy towing trucks to remove vehicles used by the union to block non-compliant trucks. In response, NUPENG reportedly strengthened its blockade at the refinery gates.
