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By Adewale Sanyaolu and Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The meeting between Dangote Refinery and members of oil workers under the umbrella of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSEN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Worker(NUPENG) yesterday deadlocked .
While the unions insisted that staff of Dangote Refinery must belong to unions , Dangote fiercely rejected the stand . The meeting which was called to resolve the standoff between them could not achieve desired result as at the time of filling this report.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) are peeved that Dangote Refinery is barring its workers from joining relevant labour unions.
Some fuel depots in Lagos and Port Harcourt were shut yesterday, in compliance with the union’s directive. NUPENG prevented loading activities at various depots in Apapa, Lagos which has the largest concentration of petroleum products holding facilities. Some of the affected depots in Apapa included; Aiteo, NIPCO, 11PC, Conoil, Ardova Petroleum and Hensmor.
The situation was also the same in Port Harcourt as Bulk strategic and Shoreline depots were prevented from loading by NUPENG members. Many filling stations in Ibadan were, yesterday, shut.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone and NUPENG declared the strike in protest against plans by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, alongside MRS Energy Ltd, to commence direct distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
At press time last night, the Federal Government and NUPENG and other stakeholders were in a meeting in Abuja. The meeting, initially scheduled for 10 am, did not commence until about 5 pm. Before it went into executive session, the Minister of State (Petroleum), Heniken Lokpobiri, had expressed optimism that the discussions would yield positive results, adding that the outcome would be com municated to the press afterwards.
NUPENG had last week announced plans to begin an industrial action from September 8, 2025, over the Dangote Refinery’s move to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct distribution of fuel to retailers.
Although the Federal Government had intervened to halt the strike, the union’s president, Williams Akporeha, insisted the action would proceed pending the outcome of the meeting with government officials on Monday.
Addressing delegates in his office in Abuja, before the press was asked to excuse the session, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, appealed for restraint and dialogue, stressing that the oil sector was too critical to the nation’s economy to be destabilised by industrial action.
“All of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen who are here representing the various interests that we have invited for this meeting, I want to use the opportunity to warmly welcome you all to this meeting and to thank you for creating time to be with us at this very late hour.
“You are aware that the purpose of this meeting is to consolidate and see how we can negotiate a kind of peaceful settlement on the dispute that we have found out to be existing between our labour unions and the oil industry and the employers in Dangote Group.
“What we are discussing today is very, very important to the peace, stability of our country and our economy. The oil industry is not a sector that we play with and it is very important for the economy of our country and for our people.”
The Minister urged both parties to show listening ears and demonstrate accommodation in order to reach an amicable resolution, assuring that the Federal Government was committed to finding a workable settlement within the limits of what is possible. Regardless of the peace talk, PENGASSAN in a statement by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okungbowa, has said it remained unwavering and in solidarity with its sister union – NUPENG, in their ongoing efforts to secure the rights of tanker drivers hired at the Dangote Refinery.
“We wish to place on record that Dangote refinery management has been resisting potential members of both PENGASSAN and NUPENG from joining the Association since its inception. All diplomatic efforts to persuade the company’s management have so far not yielded the desired result. It is with deep concern that PENGASSAN observes the increasing resistance to unionisation at the Dangote Refinery, as the continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated going forward. We stand firmly in support of NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just petroleum tankers drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies. “This is in accordance with the principles set forth by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and in line with Nigerian labour laws. The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices, ensuring safety, and upholding dignity in the workplace.”
PENGASSAN warned that should the ongoing situation persist without a resolution, it will be left with no option but to join in shutting down the refinery operations as a last resort to protect our members’ rights and interests.
“We, therefore, urge all stakeholders to engage in immediate and constructive dialogue to address these pressing issues. Failure to recognise and respect the rights of workers to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond Dangote’s refinery workplace, thereby impacting all facets of our industry.“In unity, we advocate for the rights of all workers and pledge our support to NUPENG in this vital mission. Together, we will work towards an equitable and just labour environment for all employees at Dangote Refinery,”, it said.
Meanwhile, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has called for calm, dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.
A statement by the Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, said the association observed with concern the rising tension within the downstream oil and gas industry and the possibility of an industrial action that could disrupt national petroleum supply and distribution.
“As responsible stakeholders in this vital sector of the Nigerian economy, we recognise the central importance of industrial harmony to the stability of the industry, the protection of jobs, and the sustenance of revenues accruable to the nation. The potential impact of any strike on ordinary Nigerians, businesses, and government finances cannot be overstated.
“DAPPMAN, therefore, appeals to all parties involved to exercise utmost restraint and embrace constructive dialogue as the most effective means of resolving disagreements. In particular, DAPPMAN calls for the urgent intervention of the Federal Government in addressing the concerns of all aggrieved persons. We firmly believe that engagement at the roundtable will yield lasting solutions and prevent avoidable disruptions in the sector.”
NOGASA, PETROAN, NARTO to join
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The Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have also declared support for NUPENG.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja, NOGASA President, Mr. Benneth Korie, warned that members of his association would withdraw services nationwide if the issues were not resolved.
“Our members have invested heavily in depots, trucks and filling stations to keep the nation’s petroleum supply chain running. The plan to edge us out of distribution will not only destroy businesses but also threaten energy security. We have no other choice but to align with NUPENG in this struggle,” Korie stated.
The association leader stressed that while NOGASA recognised and supported Dangote Refinery as a landmark national investment, it must not be allowed to monopolise the sector.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently, warning that suppliers would begin withdrawing services to construction companies, hotels, and telecoms sites from Monday if the matter was left unresolved.
PETROAN President, Mr Billy Gillis-Harry, said retail outlet owners shared similar concerns, noting that the refinery’s plan could trigger widespread hardship and undermine sustainability in the sector.
“Dangote Refinery is our pride, but it must succeed with us, not against us. Retail outlets have existed for decades, and any attempt to bypass them will wipe out investments, shut down jobs, and cripple small businesses,” Gillis-Harry said.
The association president maintained that PETROAN members would not abandon their workers if NUPENG’s strike goes ahead, declaring: “If this matter is not resolved, our outlet owners will simply close shop. Without our pump station workers, there can be no distribution to the public.”
He urged government regulators, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting with Dangote Refinery to clarify roles and avert the looming crisis.
On his part, NARTO President, Mr. Yusuf Othman, said the association, whose members collectively operate more than 30,000 trucks nationwide, would resist any move to undermine existing distribution structures.
Othman listed five dangers of the Dangote plan, including loss of massive investments financed by banks, destruction of livelihoods, threat to national security, risk to energy security, and eventual exploitation of consumers through monopolistic pricing.
“Any attempt to eliminate the established distribution structure will destroy livelihoods, fuel unemployment, and surrender a critical aspect of national infrastructure to private monopoly control,” Othman warned.
Citing Section 212 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he reminded the Federal Government and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of their responsibility to ensure fair competition and protect consumer interest.
The NARTO president further called on the Presidency, security agencies and the Dangote Group to immediately create a forum for dialogue, noting that its fight was not against investment but against monopolistic practices that could destabilise the economy.
Nigerians appeal FG’s intervention
A NAN correspondent who monitored the situation in Ibadan reports that while some filling stations under IPMAN and a number of major marketers did not open for business, a few others operated normally.
The impact of the strike has yet to be felt by motorists and commuters as Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) retail stations were dispensing fuel across the city.
A commercial driver, Mr Alani Adegoke, who purchased petrol at an NNPC station, expressed concern that prolonged industrial action could negatively affect Nigerians.
“We want the government to respond to this crisis before it festers and degenerates into a serious issue,” he said.Similarly, a commercial motorcyclist, Mr Gbenga Oworu, expressed the hope that ongoing discussions to resolve the ongoing impasse would yield a quick resolution.
“We don’t want anything that will make life harder for common people. Many of us, if we don’t go out in a day, cannot eat or provide food for our families,” he said.
A mother and businesswoman, Mrs Olubunmi Bamigbade, said whatever issues there were should be resolved.“We haven’t felt it yet, but if the school should resume and the issue lingers, then it will be a big problem for Nigerians.
“We want our government to please rise to the occasion and resolve whatever there is so we will have no problem,” Bamigbade said.
