The ongoing face-off between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has escalated, with the union commencing a nationwide strike on Monday, September 8, 2025, despite the intervention of the Federal Government. The strike, which effectively halts the distribution of fuel across the country, stems from allegations of anti-labour practices at the refinery.
NUPENG’s president, Williams Akporeha, confirmed that the industrial action would go ahead, insisting that the government’s outreach had not yielded concrete resolutions. The union argues that Dangote’s plan to deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks directly to retailers poses a threat to the livelihoods of over 250,000 tanker drivers. NUPENG further accused the refinery of barring new drivers from joining unions, describing the move as a violation of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.
Although the Federal Government had called a conciliation meeting on Monday in Abuja, NUPENG leaders were conspicuously absent, reportedly remaining in Lagos to coordinate the strike. As of early afternoon, the meeting had yet to begin, raising doubts about the prospects of an immediate resolution. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, had earlier appealed to the union to suspend its planned action, warning that a shutdown of the petroleum sector could cause massive hardship for Nigerians and revenue losses running into billions of naira.
Meanwhile, reactions from industry groups have been mixed. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) cautioned that the strike could devastate the downstream sector if prolonged, calling for urgent government intervention. PETROAN president, Billy Gillis-Harry, warned that filling stations might close as pump attendants, many of whom are NUPENG members, would not report for duty.
However, not all groups are backing the strike. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch (PTD) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) distanced themselves from the action, describing it as a disservice to Nigerians. They maintained that ongoing disputes with the refinery should be resolved through negotiation rather than a shutdown that would worsen economic hardships.
The development has heightened fears of fuel scarcity nationwide, with Nigerians bracing for disruptions in transportation and daily life. Beyond the immediate crisis, stakeholders also raised concerns that Dangote’s growing dominance in the sector could undermine competition, squeeze out smaller depot owners and marketers, and leave thousands unemployed.
With negotiations stalled and fuel loading already suspended, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to broker a settlement that balances union rights with private sector investment, while averting a protracted shutdown that could further strain the economy.
