The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has insisted that it will commence its planned strike today, Monday, September 8, 2025, despite last-minute intervention by the Federal Government to avert the crisis.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed that both the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) had reached out to the union, but stressed that there was “nothing concrete yet” to call off the strike. He stated that the industrial action would begin this morning, pending the outcome of a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, scheduled for later in the day.
The strike is expected to disrupt fuel supply nationwide and could plunge Nigeria into another round of fuel scarcity, worsening economic hardship for millions of citizens.
The industrial action stems from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks to directly distribute fuel to retailers. NUPENG accused the refinery of engaging in anti-labour practices, particularly the alleged refusal to allow newly recruited drivers to join any union.
In a statement jointly signed by Akporeha and NUPENG General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union described the policy as an assault on the freedom of association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.
Efforts by NUPENG, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and other stakeholders to get the refinery to reverse its stance were reportedly ignored. Matters escalated after MRS Oil, owned by Dangote’s cousin, Sayyu Dantata, allegedly began recruiting drivers under conditions that barred them from joining oil and gas unions.
Government and Labour Responses
On Sunday, Labour Minister Dingyadi appealed to the union to suspend its strike, warning that a shutdown in the petroleum sector would inflict heavy revenue losses and trigger nationwide hardship.
“The petroleum sector constitutes the core of our economy. A strike, even for one day, will have adverse impacts, both financially and socially,” the minister said in a statement signed by ministry spokesperson, Patience Onuobia.
Dingyadi confirmed that he had summoned all parties for a conciliation meeting in Abuja, expressing optimism that the matter could be resolved amicably.
Marketers Back NUPENG
Petroleum marketers have thrown their weight behind the union. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) announced it would suspend operations in solidarity.
PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, warned that filling stations nationwide would shut down if the strike commenced. He said many pump attendants are NUPENG members, meaning they would also down tools.
“PETROAN will have no choice but to close our stations. Once our pump attendants, who are NUPENG members, don’t come to work, our stations become vulnerable,” Gillis-Harry explained.
The association announced a three-day suspension of lifting and dispensing petroleum products beginning Tuesday, September 9, 2025, calling for “healthy competition rather than monopoly” in the downstream oil sector.
Meanwhile, NUPENG dismissed claims by the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) that tanker drivers would not join the strike. The union alleged that DTCDA was a creation of Dangote refinery management, noting that its leader, Enoch Kanawa, is a lawyer and not a tanker driver.
“There is no division in the ranks of NUPENG or our Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch. Nigerians should disregard DTCDA and its statements,” the union declared.
With both NUPENG and PETROAN set on industrial action, Nigeria faces imminent fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations, and potential price hikes. Unless today’s meeting yields a breakthrough, the strike could deepen the economic strain on households and businesses already grappling with inflation and rising living costs.
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