The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has initiated a nationwide shutdown of petrol distribution starting Monday, September 8, 2025, in a heated dispute with Dangote Refinery.
The conflict centers on allegations that the refinery is forcing newly recruited drivers to sign agreements prohibiting them from joining labor unions, a move NUPENG claims violates workers’ rights and threatens the livelihoods of thousands.
NUPENG alleges that Dangote Refinery’s plan to deploy 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution includes a condition that drivers renounce union membership.
According to NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, this policy could lead to the displacement of approximately 250,000 drivers currently affiliated with the union.
Akporeha emphasized that the strike aims to protect Nigerian workers from what he described as a “slavery mentality” by employers, asserting that the action is in the nation’s interest to uphold labor rights.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has publicly supported NUPENG’s strike, urging the Federal Government to intervene and hold Dangote Refinery accountable.
Falana argues that the refinery’s policy contravenes Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, as well as Section 12 of the Trade Union Act and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He further highlighted that the policy violates international labor conventions, including the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (1948) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (1949), both ratified by Nigeria.
Falana called on the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to address what he described as monopolistic and anti-union practices by the Dangote Group.
The Federal Government has stepped in to mediate, with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, scheduling a conciliation meeting for Monday, September 8, 2025, in Abuja.
‘Dingyadi warned that a strike in the petroleum sector, even for a single day, could result in billions of naira in economic losses and significant hardship for Nigerians who rely on fuel for daily activities.
He urged NUPENG to suspend the strike and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its “red alert” for a solidarity strike, emphasizing the sector’s critical role in the nation’s economy.
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has also backed NUPENG, rejecting Dangote Refinery’s distribution model as a deliberate attempt to eliminate independent transporters. NARTO called for dialogue to ensure fair competition and protect the welfare of workers in the petroleum transport sector.
Similarly, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) announced a three-day suspension of fuel lifting and dispensing starting Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in solidarity with NUPENG, warning of potential fuel scarcity if the dispute persists.
However, not all stakeholders support the strike. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), reportedly backed by Dangote Refinery, have distanced themselves from the industrial action.
The DTCDA, which shares an address with MRS Energy Limited, owned by Dangote’s cousin Sayyu Aliu Dantata, argued that workers should have the freedom to choose whether to join a union, citing Nigeria’s deregulated economy.
Additionally, the Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs (MAAES) condemned NUPENG’s strike as an attempt to sabotage a critical national asset, arguing that Dangote Refinery offers a solution to Nigeria’s fuel import challenges.
Previous NUPENG Strike and Context
The last significant strike by NUPENG occurred in August 2021, when the union directed its Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch to halt operations in Lagos.
The action was in response to a dispute with the Lagos State Government over alleged extortion and harassment of drivers by state agencies, particularly the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS).
NUPENG claimed that its members faced excessive fines, vehicle impoundments, and physical intimidation, which disrupted their operations and livelihoods.
The strike led to fuel supply disruptions in Lagos, with long queues at filling stations and increased transport costs for residents.
After negotiations facilitated by the state government, the strike was called off within days, with agreements to address the union’s grievances and improve relations between drivers and state authorities.
The current standoff with Dangote Refinery marks a significant escalation in labor disputes within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, raising concerns about fuel availability and economic stability.
The outcome of the conciliation meeting on September 8, 2025, will be critical in determining whether the strike continues or a resolution is reached to avert further disruption.
