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Tanker drivers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have threatened to halt fuel loading nationwide following a growing dispute with the management of the Dangote Refinery.

The crisis stems from the refinery’s plan to import 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers. Although the project, initially scheduled to begin on August 15, was delayed due to logistics challenges in China, the refinery said operations would commence once a significant number of trucks arrive.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG accused the Dangote Refinery of “anti-labour practices inimical to the survival and means of livelihoods” of its members under the Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Branch.

The union expressed outrage that refinery founder Aliko Dangote had declared that newly recruited drivers for the trucks would not be allowed to join any trade union.

“This position is an affront to the right of association, guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, and a breach of relevant international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory,” the union stated.

NUPENG recalled several meetings, jointly held with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), to persuade Dangote to reconsider his stance. However, it lamented that these appeals were ignored.

“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 Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Ali Dantata, follow the line of global best practices and decency, but all to no avail.

To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’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 Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits,” the statement read.

The union further accused Dangote of betraying workers’ trust.

“NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning. We did so in good faith, in expectation it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.

Unfortunately, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has chosen to betray that trust by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, 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,” the statement added.

While calling on regulators in the oil and gas industry to intervene urgently, NUPENG warned that it would mobilise its members to down tools beginning Monday, September 8, if the situation remains unresolved.

“Meanwhile, since Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin have resolved to replace all petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria, and there is no one or institution that can stop him, 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; it is a struggle that must be waged! We call on all other industrial unions and the central labour organisations, the NLC, TUC and global union federations, to get ready to stand in solidarity with peaceful mass actions and industrial actions in defending labour rights,” the union said.

Dangote Group spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.

The dispute comes at a delicate time for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, which is striving to stabilise fuel supply and reduce reliance on imported refined products.

The $20 billion Dangote Refinery, inaugurated in May 2023, has been widely hailed as a game changer for Nigeria’s energy security, with a capacity to refine 650,000 barrels per day. However, the refinery’s new truck importation scheme has raised fears of massive job losses among existing tanker drivers, setting the stage for a potentially crippling labour confrontation that could trigger fuel scarcity nationwide if not resolved

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