The ongoing standoff between Dangote NUPENG and their respective allies witnessed another twist yesterday as both parties reconvened at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja.
The fresh meeting, held barely 48 hours after the collapse of an earlier truce, was aimed at restoring calm in the petroleum sector and preventing fresh disruption of fuel distribution across the country.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the two sides agreed to maintain the suspension of industrial action while a two-week window is provided to fine-tune contentious aspects of the original agreement.
The move was widely seen as an effort to protect Nigeria’s fragile fuel supply chain and avert another nationwide shortage.
Present at the meeting were Finance Minister Wale Edun, representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), DSS officials, and senior executives from Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
On the labour side, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was represented by its President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.
This second round of dialogue followed a tense few days marked by protests, blocked refinery gates, and allegations of anti-union activities.
The roots of the fresh DSS-mediated talks can be traced to the September 9 Memorandum of Understanding signed by both sides.
That deal temporarily ended a strike action by NUPENG, which accused Dangote, NUPENG insiders said, of blocking tanker drivers from joining the union.
However, just two days later, the union alleged that Dangote management breached the pact by instructing drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from their trucks and replace them with those of the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA), a newly formed group allegedly backed by refinery management.
NUPENG leaders said the development confirmed a deliberate effort to weaken the union.
They also claimed that some individuals who had lost elections in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch were being used as mouthpieces for the DTCDA, further fueling divisions within their ranks.
In a strongly worded statement, the union recalled past attacks allegedly linked to these splinter groups. It noted that its General Secretary had once been beaten into a coma and revived in hospital after a violent assault.
NUPENG also claimed that some of the individuals now supporting the rival drivers’ association are facing criminal charges, including attempted assassination of elected labour leaders.
The union warned Nigerians not to be deceived by the company’s recent promise of free nationwide fuel delivery, describing it as a “Greek gift” designed to force tanker drivers into the company-backed DTCDA and erode labour rights.
According to NUPENG, the alleged strategy is not limited to tanker drivers alone but extends to refinery operational and administrative staff, who have also faced obstacles to unionisation.
In response, Dangote Petroleum Refinery rejected all accusations of union suppression, monopolistic intent, or anti-labour practices.
The company insisted that it operates in line with Nigerian laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.
“The current industrial matter is an internal dispute involving NUPENG’s PTD unit.
Recruitment and contractual processes across our operations are voluntary and transparent,” a company spokesperson said.
Dangote further argued that workers retain the freedom to choose their affiliations, and that claims of forced membership in alternative associations were unfounded.
“These allegations are part of a broader narrative aimed at discrediting private sector progress,” the statement read.
The DSS-brokered meeting yesterday was therefore critical in calming tempers and streamlining earlier agreements.
According to sources, the talks reviewed the September 9 resolutions and stressed the need for both parties to act in good faith.
“Yes, the meeting took place between 3 and 5pm. The suspension of the strike was sustained, and both parties agreed to revisit the resolutions of September 9,” a participant told The Nation.
Observers note that the dispute between Dangote, NUPENG extends beyond a simple unionisation battle.
It raises deeper questions about industrial relations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the balance between private sector innovation and workers’ rights, and the role of government in regulating labour practices within strategic industries.
For many Nigerians, the concern is less about the technicalities of the standoff and more about its potential impact on fuel supply and prices.
A prolonged strike by tanker drivers could cripple distribution networks, leading to scarcity and inflationary pressures.
Industry experts argue that resolving the Dangote, NUPENG clash in a transparent and sustainable manner will be a test of Nigeria’s ability to balance economic growth with social justice.
While Dangote Refinery represents the largest private-sector investment in Africa’s downstream petroleum industry, unions fear that unchecked corporate power could sideline workers’ rights.
The next two weeks will therefore be decisive.
Both sides are expected to use the window created by the DSS to refine their positions and commit to a stable framework for collaboration.
Government representatives, meanwhile, have pledged to remain actively engaged to ensure compliance with agreements.
For now, the strike suspension offers relief to millions of Nigerians who rely on steady fuel distribution.
But unless the issues raised by Dangote, NUPENG and their respective allies are resolved in good faith, the dispute could resurface with greater intensity.