The fragile peace between the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery has broken down, reigniting an industrial dispute that threatens fuel supply stability nationwide.
The row centres on allegations by NUPENG that the refinery violated a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on September 9 at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja. The agreement, mediated by Labour Minister Muhammadu Dingyadi and witnessed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), DSS, and other agencies, affirmed the right of petroleum tanker drivers to unionise.
But within 48 hours, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha accused Sayyu Aliu Dantata, a cousin of Aliko Dangote and head of the refinery’s trucking arm, of ordering drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from their vehicles and bypass union loading procedures. He also alleged that Dantata deployed naval officers to intimidate union members.
“His wealth cannot make him above the law. Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod while defying agreements reached in meetings they themselves facilitated,” Akporeha warned.
NUPENG has now placed members on “red alert” for a nationwide strike, calling on labour allies at home and abroad to prepare for solidarity action. Its General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said Dangote was preparing to tow away union vehicles used to enforce compliance, prompting the union to reinforce blockades at the refinery.
Labour, Marketers React
Fuel marketers under the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) appealed for restraint, warning that any disruption could cause scarcity. “All parties should adhere to the MoU. Attempts to renege are not in good taste,” PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry said.
The NLC also condemned the refinery’s actions as a “gross violation” of the agreement. Acting General Secretary Benson Upah said the Congress would decide on appropriate action, while another senior NLC official accused the refinery of treating Nigerian laws with contempt, dubbing it “the Dangote Republic.”
Dangote Responds
In a rejoinder dated September 11, the refinery dismissed the allegations as “wholly inaccurate,” insisting that union membership is voluntary. It denied compelling drivers to renounce union rights and accused NUPENG of economic sabotage.
Dangote said its compressed natural gas (CNG) truck scheme would create 60,000 jobs with pay and benefits above national standards. “Far from threatening livelihoods, this initiative is expected to create over 60,000 direct jobs and many more indirectly,” the company said. It also rejected monopoly claims, citing the presence of other licensed refineries, and credited its operations with reducing diesel prices by 30 percent in the past year.
Government’s Dilemma
The Ministry of Labour said it has yet to receive a formal complaint. Director of Trade Unions, Amos Falonipe, stated: “We haven’t heard anything from NUPENG, and we also haven’t seen any report indicating that Dangote is reneging. If there are, we would invite them.”
Analysts warn that the dispute now tests not just labour relations but also the Federal Government’s authority. “If Dangote can openly defy a government-brokered deal, industrial peace and state credibility are at stake,” one analyst noted.
With NUPENG threatening to resume strike action on September 15, Nigerians fear a renewed round of fuel scarcity and price hikes, underscoring the dispute’s direct impact on daily life.
