The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has cautioned Nigerians against being misled by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals’ proposal to provide free delivery of petroleum products across the country to fuel stations. The union characterizes this offer as a deceptive tactic designed to eliminate competition.
NUPENG further criticized the Dangote Group, which operates the massive 650,000 barrels per day refinery, labeling it as a prime example of ruthless capitalist practices aimed at stifling competitors, ultimately intending to drive up fuel prices over time.
This statement was issued by NUPENG President Akporeha Williams and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale on Friday, September 12, 2025, under the title “Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s School of Falsification Exposed.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between the union and the refinery management.
The conflict began over allegations that Dangote Refinery has been obstructing its drivers from joining NUPENG, which led to a strike action initiated by the union. The strike was eventually resolved through intervention by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
However, shortly after the strike was suspended, NUPENG raised concerns that Dangote Refinery had violated the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed upon by both parties, threatening to reinstate the strike if the issues were not addressed.
In response, Dangote Refinery emphasized that union membership is a voluntary choice and asserted that it respects employees’ rights to freely join recognized trade unions. The refinery also condemned what it described as NUPENG’s misrepresentation of the company’s labor relations.
Countering this, NUPENG stated that the refinery’s press release dated September 11, 2025, only confirmed the Dangote Group’s reputation as a manipulative capitalist entity built on deceit, aiming to undermine NUPENG and suppress competition, with the ultimate goal of inflating fuel prices in the future.
“Nigerians should be wary of the so-called free nationwide delivery of petroleum products to fuel stations. This is a strategic ploy to prevent other employers of petroleum tanker drivers from hiring, ensuring that only drivers employed by Dangote, who are compelled to join the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), remain employed. The entire scheme is designed to dismantle NUPENG and its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch,” the union stated.
“It is important to highlight that beyond the tanker drivers, other operational and administrative staff at Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company have been systematically denied their right to unionize. Records show that the Dangote Group prohibits unionization across all its cement and sugar plants nationwide,” NUPENG added.
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“Nigerians should reject any employment system that denies workers, including drivers, the fundamental right to freedom of association and union membership,” the union urged.
Furthermore, NUPENG warned the public and international observers to remain vigilant, emphasizing that the union’s leaders advocating for workers’ rights could face threats, given the lengths to which wealthy capitalists might go when confronted and exposed.
The union reiterated that Dangote Refinery’s denial of restricting its drivers from joining NUPENG is false. They clarified that the MoU signed on September 9, 2025, was itself a recognition of the company’s initial resistance to unionization.
“The MoU’s existence confirms the company’s reluctance to allow freedom of association. Despite this agreement, on September 11, 2025, Dangote Refinery ordered the removal of NUPENG stickers from all trucks, replacing them with those of the DTCDA, a drivers’ association created by management,” NUPENG explained.
“Our members have firmly opposed this move. Since 2023, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been fostering division within the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of our union. The company’s agents, who have repeatedly lost union elections, are now being recruited to form the DTCDA,” the union revealed.
“Those same agents, defeated in union elections, have been publicly supporting the company through media appearances,” NUPENG concluded.
By: Babajide Okeowo
