The National President of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) and Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have declared their intention to join the industrial auction announced by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Recall that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG had declared a strike over Dangote Refinery’s plan to deploy 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution.
Speaking during a joint press statement on Monday, the President of NOGASA, Bennett Korie, directed suppliers of petroleum products to end users, such as telecom communications sites, hotels, and construction companies, among others to stop supplies by 9 am tomorrow of the dialogue initiated by the federal government fails.
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Korie said the associations were worried about the loss of supply opportunities and job losses that could jeopardize the livelihood of those involved across the distribution value chain when Dangote begins direct supply.
While they emphasised they were proud of the refinery role in reshaping Nigeria’s petroleum industry, they said their members have raised concerns regarding the effect of Dangote’s move.
“It is thereby directed that all oil and gas suppliers to all construction companies, industries, hotels, and telecommunications sites nationwide should be withdrawn their services with the effect from tomorrow, 9 September 2025, pending when the matter is resolved. I repeat, withdraw their services from tomorrow. We resolutely appeal to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and facilitate a dialogue between downstream sector distribution stakeholders and Dangote Refinery so that we move forward to avoid further destruction of petroleum products to Nigerians.”
On his part, the National President of PETROAN, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, said those applauding Dangote are not aware the trucks will only provide a short-term benefit.
“So 4,000 trucks will go to 4,000 stations, and how much, how long will that take place? So we need to ask ourselves the question that did we not see the same trucks loading our cement to the various cement kiosks across the country? Has it reduced the price? So, we need to protect this industry so that our energy security will be guaranteed.”
“That is why PATRIAN has directed that any NUPENG member that is working with all our retail outlets that joins in the strike, if the matter is not resolved tomorrow or today, will not be sacked, will not be terminated, and therefore we give tacit support to the industry leaders and stakeholders and Dangote and the federal government that we should meet and quickly resolve this matter. This matter is not a difficult decision.”
Also, the National President of NARTO, Yusuf Lawal Othman, said it strongly and unequivocally rejects any plan for free distribution of petroleum products.
He said such an approach is not only unsustainable but is also a deliberate attempt to undermine and eliminate the thousands of independent transporters who form the backbone of Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network.
“At present, NARTO members collectively operate more than 30,000 trucks across the country, employing thousands of drivers, assistants, and service providers. These operations sustain millions of dependents and are supported by financial commitments from both local and international banks, as well as marketers and depot owners.”
He said any attempt to eliminate the established distribution structure will lead to loss of investment and destroy livelihoods leading to mass unemployment for drivers, mechanics, loaders, and others whose survival depends on petroleum distribution.