Petrol station workers expose rampant exploitation in Nigeria’s oil retail sector

While refinery disputes and high-level negotiations dominate headlines in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, a deeper crisis is festering at the grassroots, one that affects the very people who keep the country’s fuel flowing daily.

Petrol station workers across Nigeria have raised the alarm over years of neglect, exploitation, and abuse within the downstream oil sector. Operating under the Concerned Petrol Station Workers (CPSWs), the group said they are “dying in silence” despite serving as the crucial link between fuel and millions of Nigerians every day.

In a statement released in Kaduna, CPSW spokesperson Ibrahim Zango said workers are among the most overworked and underpaid in the petroleum chain, yet their plight remains ignored. Many earn between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000 a month which is far below Nigeria’s rising cost of living. With no health insurance, hazard allowance, or protective gear, the job has become a dangerous form of modern servitude.

“How do you survive on ₦20,000 in today’s Nigeria? We don’t even get allowances or medical support. If you complain, you risk losing your job,” Zango said.

The CPSWs alleged workers are frequently made to pay for fuel shortages or pump discrepancies even when faults are mechanical or caused by poor management. Such deductions can sometimes wipe out entire wages, plunging workers into deeper financial despair.

Beyond economic hardships, the group highlighted severe safety concerns. Workers face exposure to toxic fumes, robbery attacks, and constant risk of fires or explosions all without adequate safety training, equipment, or insurance. Petrol station owners often vanish during crises, leaving staff to face consequences alone.

Efforts to push for better conditions are met with hostility. Workers who attempt to unionise or advocate for fair treatment face threats, harassment, or dismissal. Despite being part of the oil sector, petrol station workers are rarely included in discussions by powerful unions like the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which Zango accused of failing to organise or represent them.

The group appeals to the Federal Government, Ministry of Labour, and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to urgently address their concerns and include them in petroleum sector reforms. They demand a living wage, regulated shifts and rest breaks, medical and hazard allowances, proper protective equipment, union rights, and official recognition.

“Petrol station workers are not invisible. We are not expendable. We are Nigerians who keep the economy running, often at the expense of our health and dignity,” Zango said. “Our voices must no longer be silenced.” As Nigeria navigates the future of its oil industry, the struggles of frontline fuel workers remain a critical and largely ignored part of the national conversation.