Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector faces a fresh wave of tension as two key players — the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN); prepare to suspend operations over disputes linked to the Dangote Refinery’s new distribution model.
NUPENG had earlier announced that its members would embark on a nationwide strike from Monday, September 8, 2025, in protest against what it described as “anti-union labour practices” by the Dangote Group. The union accused the refinery of bypassing traditional supply chains by deploying newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks for direct product distribution, a move it says threatens existing jobs and undermines labour rights.
In a related development, PETROAN declared a three-day warning suspension of product lifting and dispensing beginning Tuesday, September 9. The association said the action is in support of healthy competition in the sector and against what it sees as monopolistic practices that could destabilise the market.
Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN’s national president, warned that the aggressive distribution model of the Dangote Refinery could force private depot owners, modular refineries, marketers, and independent truck operators out of business. He cautioned that such developments could trigger massive unemployment and long-term economic disruptions, drawing parallels with past monopoly concerns in Nigeria’s cement industry.
The situation has prompted widespread calls for government intervention. Gillis-Harry urged President Bola Tinubu, the petroleum regulatory authority, and security agencies to step in quickly to prevent fuel scarcity and protect consumers from hardship. He also appealed to filling station owners not to punish or dismiss pump attendants — many of whom belong to NUPENG — if they join the strike.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind NUPENG, accusing the Dangote Group of “anti-worker and monopolistic practices.” NLC President Joe Ajaero demanded the immediate unionisation of Dangote Refinery staff and warned that organised labour would mobilise nationwide resistance if the company failed to comply. “The working class must not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is racing against time to avert a shutdown of the critical sector. Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi appealed to NUPENG and the NLC to suspend their planned actions, warning that even a day’s strike could cost the economy billions of naira and deepen the hardship of ordinary Nigerians. He confirmed that a conciliation meeting with all stakeholders has been scheduled.
With both labour and industry groups standing firm, and the government calling for restraint, the next few days will be decisive for Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain — and for the millions of citizens who depend on it daily.
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