The two-day strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which had threatened to plunge the country into another fuel scarcity crisis, has ended following a landmark agreement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
On Wednesday, fuel loading and distribution resumed across depots after the union confirmed it had reopened facilities earlier shut down in protest.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed that operations were back to normal after both parties, under the mediation of the Department of State Services (DSS), reached a truce late Tuesday night.
“Yes, the depots have been reopened and loading has resumed,” Akporeha told reporters.
The strike, which began on Monday, was triggered by allegations that the Dangote Refinery had barred drivers recruited to operate its 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks from joining any trade union or association.
NUPENG argued that such restrictions violated Nigeria’s labour laws and threatened workers’ fundamental rights.
With depots and filling stations shutting down, panic buying began to surface in parts of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, sparking fears of another round of fuel queues across the country.
However, the breakthrough agreement provided a much-needed relief to motorists, businesses, and the economy.
According to details of the resolution, both Dangote Refinery and Dangote Petrochemicals agreed to allow workers unionise in line with Nigeria’s extant labour laws.
The process of unionisation is to begin immediately and be completed between September 9 and September 22, 2025.
Importantly, the company pledged not to create alternative or parallel unions within its operations, a practice labour leaders warned could weaken collective bargaining power.
In addition, the agreement guaranteed that no employee would face victimisation for participating in the strike action.
“This is a victory for the Nigerian worker and a demonstration that dialogue remains the best tool for resolving industrial disputes,” Akporeha stated.
In a related development, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) also suspended its nationwide strike.
PETROAN had directed members to halt dispensing of products in solidarity with NUPENG.
Its National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, announced on Wednesday that members had been instructed to resume dispensing immediately.
“Normalcy has returned to the petroleum sector as depots and filling stations resume operations nationwide,” he declared.
Gillis-Harry commended the government, security agencies, and industry stakeholders for their intervention, stressing that the resolution was “a positive development for the nation’s economy.”
The quick resolution of the dispute highlights the growing involvement of security institutions such as the DSS in labour-related matters.
Alongside the DSS, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of State for Petroleum, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Inspector-General of Police all played roles in brokering peace.
Labour experts note that government’s active mediation prevented what could have become a prolonged standoff with devastating consequences for fuel supply and inflation.
With Nigeria still recovering from past fuel scarcity episodes, maintaining stability in the downstream sector has become a national priority.
The dispute with Dangote Refinery also raises larger questions about labour rights in Nigeria’s private sector.
Analysts argue that while large conglomerates like Dangote Group play a pivotal role in economic growth, they must also ensure compliance with labour laws protecting workers’ freedom of association.
Dr. Chinedu Nwosu, an industrial relations analyst, explained:
“This outcome reaffirms that unionisation is a constitutional right. If companies as large as Dangote comply, it sets a precedent for smaller firms to follow. It also strengthens workers’ confidence that they cannot be silenced.”
The end of the strike brings immediate relief to Nigerians who had feared a worsening fuel crisis.
Fuel queues that began to emerge in major cities are expected to clear as loading resumes. Transport operators, small businesses, and households — all heavily dependent on fuel — welcomed the development.
A Lagos-based commercial bus driver, Musa Ibrahim, said:
“We were already preparing for long queues like before.
This agreement is good news because fuel scarcity affects everything, from transport fares to food prices.”
Economists also stress that resolving the impasse quickly prevents a spike in inflation.
With food and energy already accounting for over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s inflation basket, any disruption in fuel supply could have worsened the cost-of-living crisis.
The resolution is also a test of trust. Both NUPENG and Dangote Refinery must now ensure that the terms of the agreement are faithfully implemented within the two-week timeline. Failure to do so could trigger fresh unrest.
Observers believe the episode underscores the need for stronger institutional frameworks in handling industrial disputes.
“We must move from fire-brigade interventions to preventive dialogue mechanisms,” said labour rights advocate, Funke Adeyemi.
For now, Nigerians can breathe a sigh of relief as normal fuel supply resumes.
But the underlying issues of workers’ rights, industry regulation, and fair labour practices remain areas requiring sustained attention in Nigeria’s evolving energy sector.