Petrol Scarcity Looms as NUPENG, Dangote Dispute Deepens

Petrol Scarcity Looms as NUPENG, Dangote Dispute Deepens

The fragile peace recently brokered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote Refinery now hangs in the balance, as NUPENG has issued a fresh warning of resuming its suspended industrial action.

If the crisis escalates, Nigeria could face a significant disruption in fuel distribution, threatening widespread petrol scarcity with far-reaching consequences for the masses and the economy.

In a strongly worded statement, NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of reneging on resolutions reached during a high-level peace meeting. Central to the dispute is the alleged directive by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, founder of MRS Holdings, instructing long-standing NUPENG-PTD truck drivers to remove union stickers and forcibly enter the refinery to load products, actions the union claims violate established loading protocols.

Tensions reportedly intensified when Dantata allegedly summoned naval personnel to intervene, a move NUPENG described as an attempt to intimidate union officials and undermine lawful labour practices.

Dangote Refinery, in its response, dismissed the allegations as baseless, reaffirming its commitment to labour rights and denying any coercion of workers to forgo union membership.

The company emphasized that the dispute is limited to the Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit and does not reflect broader anti-labour practices.

However, NUPENG insists that Dangote Refinery is actively undermining the agreement signed on September 9, 2025, which affirmed workers’ rights to unionize.

The union has placed its members on red alert for a nationwide strike, calling on labour bodies and civil society groups to rally in solidarity.

If the strike resumes, the implications could be severe on the economy and masses

Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.

Any prolonged disruption could reverse recent gains in fuel price stabilization and availability.

While the company touts its deployment of over 4,000 CNG-powered trucks as a boost to Nigeria’s energy transition and job creation, NUPENG fears this move may marginalize existing unionized drivers and erode labour protections.

The Federal Government now faces mounting pressure to intervene decisively and prevent a full-blown crisis that could destabilize both the oil sector and the broader economy.