The Nigerian energy sector may face another round of disruptions as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has announced plans to halt fuel loading nationwide starting Monday, September 8, 2025.
The move follows an escalating dispute with the management of the $20bn Dangote Refinery over its plan to introduce 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks for fuel distribution.
In a strongly worded statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union accused the Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices designed to sideline its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch.
The union alleged that the refinery plans to recruit new drivers for the CNG fleet under contracts that explicitly prevent them from joining any trade union.
According to NUPENG, this approach violates the Nigerian Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of association as well as international labour conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
The union said it had engaged in several meetings with the Dangote management, often in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), to ensure tanker drivers retain their rights to unionize.
However, those appeals, it noted, were ignored.
“To our utmost shock, drivers being recruited for the CNG trucks are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any union,” NUPENG declared.
“We cannot stand idly by while the livelihoods of thousands of tanker drivers and their families are destroyed.”
The union further accused the Dangote Group of plotting to monopolize fuel distribution by sidelining independent tanker drivers, thereby threatening jobs, fair competition, and ultimately the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
The Dangote Refinery had earlier revealed that it delayed the rollout of its CNG truck fleet due to logistical challenges in China but insisted the distribution system will commence once a substantial number of trucks arrive.
The initiative, the refinery explained, is designed to make distribution more efficient and environmentally friendly by reducing reliance on diesel-powered trucks.
However, NUPENG believes the move has broader implications beyond efficiency.
“This is not philanthropy; it is economic sabotage. By seeking to control both refining and distribution, Dangote aims to crush competition and enslave the sector,” the union warned.
Efforts to reach the refinery’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, for a response were unsuccessful as of press time.
If the strike goes ahead, Nigeria could experience a major disruption in fuel supply, leading to queues at filling stations and price hikes.
This comes at a time when the country is struggling to stabilize its downstream oil sector amid fluctuating crude prices and high transportation costs.
The Port Harcourt–Aba train service suspension earlier this week has already left traders and commuters frustrated, and a fuel supply disruption could compound economic pressures.
Analysts warn that even a few days of halted loading could trigger nationwide scarcity, given the fragile nature of Nigeria’s fuel distribution chain.
NUPENG has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and global labour federations to support its struggle, describing it as a fight for the dignity of Nigerian workers.
The union also urged the public to bear any inconvenience, framing the struggle as a necessary defense against corporate overreach.
The development comes as Nigeria grapples with its broader energy transition agenda.
The Dangote Refinery, inaugurated in May 2023 with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, was hailed as a game-changer for energy security.
Yet, its attempt to reshape the downstream distribution model is now at the center of a labour battle that could test the resilience of the sector.
Stakeholders are calling on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intervene quickly.
Without mediation, the standoff could deepen mistrust between labour and investors, discouraging future private sector participation in critical infrastructure projects.
Labour experts argue that while Dangote’s CNG truck initiative aligns with global sustainability trends, it must not come at the cost of workers’ rights.
They stress that Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy must be inclusive, protecting jobs and ensuring fair labour practices.
As Monday’s deadline approaches, Nigerians are bracing for possible disruptions.
The standoff between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery underscores the delicate balance between innovation, investment, and workers’ welfare in Nigeria’s evolving oil and gas sector.
Unless urgent dialogue is initiated, the dispute could escalate into a nationwide fuel crisis with significant economic and social repercussions.