Dangote Refinery Faces Strike Threat as NUPENG Holds Firm, Meets FG Today

By Ademola Adekusibe

7th September 2025

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has reiterated its decision to commence a nationwide strike from Monday, despite efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the dispute.

Williams Akporeha, NUPENG President, confirmed that government officials had reached out to the union to avert industrial action, but he insisted the strike would proceed pending a scheduled conciliation meeting in Abuja today, Monday, September 8, 2025.

The strike follows Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks for direct distribution of fuel to retailers. The scheme, initially slated for mid-August, faced delays due to logistical issues in China, but the refinery has said it will commence operations once a significant number of trucks arrive.

In a joint statement on Friday, NUPENG President Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale accused the refinery of anti-labour practices that threaten the jobs of Petroleum Tanker Drivers. According to the union, Dangote’s management plans to recruit new drivers for the CNG trucks who would be prohibited from joining any union, a move described as a violation of freedom of association guaranteed under the Constitution and international labour conventions.

The union claimed its appeals to the refinery, alongside the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, were ignored. The matter escalated when MRS Oil, owned by Dangote’s cousin Sayyu Dantata, reportedly began recruiting drivers under contracts forbidding union membership.

Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi has intervened, summoning all parties to a conciliation meeting in Abuja. He appealed to NUPENG to suspend the planned strike and urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to withdraw its “red alert” issued in solidarity. Dingyadi warned that any industrial action could disrupt fuel supplies and inflict significant economic losses.

“The petroleum sector is critical to our economy. A strike, even for one day, will trigger revenue losses worth billions and hardship for Nigerians,” the minister stated, assuring that the government will broker a resolution acceptable to both labour and the refinery.

Despite government intervention, Akporeha told journalists that NUPENG would begin its strike as planned. “The Federal Government and NNPC are engaging us, but nothing concrete has emerged. The strike starts Monday morning,” he said.

Marketers of petroleum products have backed NUPENG, warning that filling stations could close if the strike begins. Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, said some staff at PETROAN filling stations are union members and will join the strike, forcing closures. PETROAN plans to suspend fuel distribution for three days starting Tuesday, September 9, as a measure to promote fair competition.

NUPENG also disowned a statement by the President of the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, Enoch Kanawa, who claimed the union could not speak for tanker drivers. The union maintains that Kanawa’s association was created by Dangote’s management to undermine unionisation.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, urged the Federal Government to enforce workers’ rights, citing violations of constitutional and international provisions on freedom of association.

Meanwhile, the Economic Rights Activists have warned that a strike could worsen hyperinflation and deepen hardship for ordinary Nigerians, urging all parties to return to negotiations.

The outcome of today’s conciliation meeting will determine whether the looming strike is averted or if the country faces a disruption in fuel supply.