The stability in the distribution and availability of petroleum products being enjoyed by Nigerians is about to be aborted as a result of the seeming cold war between the management of the Ɗangote Refinery and one of the umbrella unions of workers in the oil industry, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG).
NUPENG, in a statement jointly signed by Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, President and General Secretary respectively, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the Union accused the management of Dangote Refinery of alleged anti-labour practices, inimical to the survival and means of livelihoods of its members under its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers branch.
The Union specifically expressed strong reservations about the position of Chairman of Ɗangote Refinery, Aliko Ɗangote, that drivers recruited for operations of its 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Trucks imported into the country would not be allowed to join any trade union.
The Union described the position taken by the management of Ɗangote Refinery as an affront on the right of association, guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, and a breach of relevant international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The NUPENG recalled several meetings it initiated, jointly with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners ( NARTO), to prevail on Aliko Ɗangote to rescind his stance not to allow its drivers to join trade unions. The Union expressed regret that its appeals fell on deaf ears.
“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union has made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Aliko Ɗangote and his cousin, Sayyu Ali Ɗantata, follow the line of global best practices and decency, but all to no avail.
“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Ɗantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG Trucks on Friday, 29th August 2025. “The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the Oil and Gas Industry.
“NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Sayyu Ɗantata and Alhaji Aliko Ɗangote, who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits. To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and a voice, amounts to creating filthy wealth.
“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers. We stood in solidarity with Ɗangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning. We did so in good faith, in expectation that it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people, under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.
“Unfortunately, Aliko Ɗangote has chosen to betray that trust, by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, and enslave the sector and raise prices, which would ultimately result in an attack on the living standards of the masses of ordinary Nigerians. This is not philanthropy, it is economic sabotage!”
While appealing to relevant oil industry regulatory agencies to wade into the unfolding crisis, the Union dropped the hint that it would call on its members to down tools and shun loading of petroleum products, effective from Monday, September 8.
“We call on the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority (the Authority, for short) to invoke its powers under Section 32(u) & (aa) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Under those two provisions, the Authority is empowered to promote competition and private sector participation in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
“The Authority has responsibility to identify, investigate, and prevent abuse of dominant positions and
restrictive business practices with regard to midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
“By this statement, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, including well-meaning segments of the Nigerian society, to call the two trillionaire businessmen to order. They should be told to obey the laws of Nigeria. If they persist in their anti-union, tyrannical attitudes, NUPENG is set and ready to mobilise its forces to fight within the framework of the law.
“Meanwhile, since Aliko Ɗangote and his cousin have resolved to replace all petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria, and no one or institution can stop them, the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG will, from Monday, 8th September 2025, start
looking for alternative employment/skills and sources of livelihoods.
“We plead with the general public to bear any inconveniences our struggle against this tyranny and indecency may cause”.
