Fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG begins nationwide strike Monday over face-off with Dangote

By Victor Ahiuma-Young and Obas Esiedesa

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has announced that its members will commence a nationwide strike from Monday, September 8, 2025, in protest against what it described as anti-union labour practices linked to the deployment of newly imported Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, trucks by Dangote Refinery.

The union’s decision was contained in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.

NUPENG recalled that on June 14, 2025, Alhaji Aliko Dangote announced plans to import 4,000 CNG trucks—later increased to 10,000—for nationwide distribution of petroleum and diesel products. According to the union, while the development initially appeared to be a welcome investment in the downstream sector, it raised questions among stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, about its wider implications.

To clarify these concerns, NUPENG and NARTO requested a meeting with Dangote, which was held on June 23, 2025, with Alhaji Sayyu Dantata representing him. At that meeting, the union stated that it was informed the trucks would be operated under a new arrangement that excluded existing trade unions.

NUPENG alleged that recruitment of drivers for the trucks began on August 29, 2025, and that applicants were reportedly required to sign undertakings not to join existing unions in the oil and gas industry. The union described this as contrary to established labour rights.

The statement said: “The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing unions is a matter of serious concern to us. This requirement does not align with Nigeria’s Constitution, labour legislation, or international conventions on freedom of association.”

NUPENG cited Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of association, as well as Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, which prohibits penalising workers for joining or not joining unions.

It further referenced Nigeria’s ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 87 on the freedom of association, stressing that the convention is binding and enforceable under Section 254C(2) of the Constitution.

NUPENG also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to exercise its statutory powers under Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to promote competition and prevent restrictive practices in the petroleum sector.

Decision to strike

The union said that despite repeated efforts to engage both government agencies and the companies involved, no satisfactory resolution had been reached.

“Having exhausted all available avenues of dialogue, we are left with no option but to embark on a nationwide industrial action beginning Monday, September 8, 2025,” the union declared.

NUPENG assured the public that the strike was not intended to create hardship but to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure a fair and competitive downstream petroleum industry.

It appealed to Nigerians for understanding and called on other labour organisations, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to show solidarity.

The statement added that members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG had already been advised to begin seeking alternative employment or skills training if the matter was not resolved.

NUPENG called on the Federal Government to intervene and ensure compliance with labour laws.

At the time of filing this report, a response from the Dangote Group to the issues raised by NUPENG was still being awaited

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