NUPENG Threatens Fresh Strike, Accuses Dangote Refinery of Reneging on Union Deal

Barely 48 hours after suspending its nationwide strike, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to resume industrial action, accusing the management of Dangote Refinery of breaching an agreement on workers’ unionisation.

In a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union alleged that despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier in the week, Dangote Refinery had ordered truck drivers who are members of NUPENG’s Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch to remove union stickers from their trucks.

"We are by this statement placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action,” NUPENG warned. “We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, civil society organisations, and the international labour movement to rise in support against this brazen violation of workers’ rights.”

NUPENG had suspended its strike on Tuesday, following a closed-door meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS) and attended by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), labour leaders, and Dangote Group executives.

At the meeting, both parties signed an MoU affirming that:

. Unionisation is a right under Nigerian labour laws.
. Workers at Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals who wish to unionise would be allowed to do so.
. The process of unionisation would begin immediately and be concluded within two weeks (September 9–22, 2025).
. No worker would be victimised for participating in the strike or for joining a union.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Dangote Group by Sayyu Dantata, its Managing Director, and witnessed by officials from NUPENG, the NLC, TUC, and the Ministry of Labour.

However, Dangote Refinery has denied the allegation of anti-labour practices. Spokesman Anthony Chiejina dismissed NUPENG’s claims as “cheap blackmail”, insisting that the company remains committed to upholding the law and protecting the rights of its employees.

“The management of Dangote Refinery has not reneged on any agreement,” Chiejina said. “We remain open to dialogue and will continue to engage stakeholders constructively.”

The dispute began earlier in the week when NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of hiring new tanker drivers on the condition that they refrain from joining the union a charge the company strongly rejected.

The refinery, which began operations last year with a 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity, is Africa’s largest and has significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. However, its growing dominance has sparked concerns about monopoly and its impact on the existing network of over 20,000 independent tanker drivers.

Industry observers note that the refinery’s plan to roll out thousands of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for petrol distribution has also created tension with traditional diesel tanker operators represented by NUPENG.

NUPENG has urged the Federal Government to ensure that security agencies are not used to intimidate workers or shield Dangote Refinery from compliance with the MoU. The union warned that failure to address the alleged breaches could lead to a full-scale nationwide strike, potentially disrupting petroleum distribution.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is expected to reconvene all parties within the next two weeks to review progress on the unionisation process.