Barely 48 hours after the Department of State Services (DSS) brokered peace between Dangote Group and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), fresh dispute has erupted between the duo, Daily Trust can report.
Specifically, the leadership of the union halted loading of fuel at the loading bay of the refinery on Thursday following the company’s directive to its drivers to remove all the union stickers pasted on their trucks on Wednesday.
Daily Trust reports that the DSS had on Tuesday brokered peace between the duo after the first reconciliatory meeting that was held on Monday at Labour Ministry’s ended in a stalemate over dispute that borders on unionisation.
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Following a closed-door meeting that was held at the headquarters of the secret police in Abuja, the leadership of NUPENG directed its members to suspend the nationwide industrial action.
Sources who were familiar with what transpired on Wednesday and Thursday confided in our correspondent that the removal order by the company angered the union leaders, and they summoned an emergency meeting over the matter.
“On Wednesday morning, based on the agreement reached on Tuesday at the DSS headquarters, our members working with Dangote Refinery were called, we didn’t force anybody and we handed over stickers to them.
“To our surprise, after a few hours, we heard that the company directed all of them to remove the stickers. Meanwhile, not all of them even collected the stickers ab initio. We thought it was a rumour.
“When we came here this morning (Thursday), we noticed that all the pasted stickers had been removed. This negates the agreement we had during Tuesday’s meeting,” one of the union leaders told Daily Trust.
Confirming the development, NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, said it is not yet Uhuru for both the union and the company, saying the Managing Director of the company is not bigger than the government who intervened earlier.
Akporeha said, “This is to alert the general public and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that notwithstanding the resolution reached and signed at the office of the DSS with three Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Director-General of the DSS in attendance on the right of unionization of the workers, Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 instructed all his Truck Drivers who are NUPENG-PTD members for several years to remove the union stickers from their trucks yesterday.
“Today, Thursday, 11th September, 2025, he instructed them to forcefully drive into Dangote Refinery to load and Union officials stopped them from entering the Refinery to load because their trucks violated union loading rules and regulations.
“Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the Navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the Union officials.
“Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over. We call on everyone to let Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata know that he is not bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we strongly condemn his arrogant attitude towards official institutions of this great country and blatant lack of respect for the laws of this country.
“We call on the Federal Government not to allow the Navy and other security agents being paid with the resources of this country, to be used with impunity against the laws and people of this country.”
NUPENG president, however, placed all its members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action, while calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and civil society organizations to rise in support and solidarity against the threat of the capitalist world.
Reacting in a statement last night, the management of Dangote Group said the refinery maintains a cordial and cooperative relationship with all recognised trade unions, including NUPENG.
“We have consistently supported their legitimate activities within our facility, including providing office space and enabling member engagement and dues collection without interference.
“Since the refinery became operational, our activities have contributed positively to union revenue and engagement. While we remain open to constructive dialogue, we will not tolerate economic sabotage, coercion, or blackmail under the guise of labour activism,” the group said in a statement.
While acknowledging the intervention of the federal government, Dangote refinery said it remains fully supportive of ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting resolution.
“We hold both the minister, Dr Mohammed Dingyadi (Katuka Sokoto) and Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, in the highest regard, and reject any suggestion that we have acted in a manner that would undermine their involvement. The minister granted Mallam Sayyu Dantata the permit to enable him to attend to his medication.
“It is therefore both unfounded and regrettable for NUPENG to allege that our representatives staged a walkout during the conciliation meeting. Moreover, NUPENG did not engage with Dangote Petroleum Refinery on any grievance prior to threatening industrial action and issuing public allegations, an approach that is disappointing given the positive working relationship we have consistently maintained.
“We urge NUPENG to act in good faith, respect the ongoing dialogue process, and refrain from making statements that could undermine national economic recovery efforts led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” the group said.
On the right to unionise, Dangote Petroleum Refinery said it fully upholds the constitutional and international principle that trade union membership is a voluntary right.
“The current industrial matter is an internal dispute with NUPENG, specifically involving its Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit. It is therefore misplaced to attribute responsibility to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the personal choices made by drivers regarding union affiliation,” it said.
On monopoly and market competition, the Dangote refinery said it operates within a deregulated market framework, under the oversight of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
It declared that the “Assertion of monopolistic intent is both legally and factually incorrect.”
The group said “Dangote refinery has brought down Gasoline prices more than eight times in the last one and half year just to stabilize the domestic energy prices and supplies. No more demurrage payment by the NNPC.”
How faceoff unfolded
The tanker drivers declared a strike over Dangote Refinery’s plan to deploy 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution last Friday.
They said the initiative will bypass existing tanker drivers and threaten thousands of jobs and violate the right of workers to unionize.
The dispute also touched on the company’s policy against unionisation by its employees, with NUPENG insisting that no oil worker will work with the Dangote group without being unionised.
The union, while protesting the alleged anti-workers and anti-union agenda of the Dangote Group, argued that the company’s policy was meant to enslave oil workers it employed to render critical services in its refinery.
Dangote refinery begins CNG-powered trucks, slashes pump prices
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to roll out the compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks with effect from Monday, 15th September, as part of its logistics-free distribution programme aimed at significantly reducing fuel prices across Nigeria.
In a statement released by the company, the initiative will see the gantry price reduced to N820 per litre, with corresponding lower pump prices in several key states.
The initiative was planned to commence on August 15 but had been stalled due to logistics challenge.
However, the initiative is set to commence on Monday, according to a statement by the refinery management.
Lagos and other South-Western states will see fuel retailing at N841 per litre, while Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Kwara states will sell at N851 per litre.
The first phase of the deployment will cover the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Kwara, Delta, Edo, Rivers and South West states, with nationwide expansion planned as additional trucks are delivered.
This transition to CNG-powered transportation is expected to save the Nigerian economy over N1.8 trillion annually.
The move is designed to cut fuel distribution costs, reduce pump prices, and ease inflationary pressures.
“In particular, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 42 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by lowering energy costs and improving profit margins.
“Dangote Group is investing over N720 billion into the programme, which is also anticipated to revitalise dormant filling stations across the country. The project is expected to create numerous direct employment opportunities, including roles for truck drivers, filling station managers, and fuel attendants.
“The company has called on stakeholders, including fuel station operators, telecommunications companies, and large-scale fuel consumers, to partner with the initiative to ensure its success and maximise its economic impact,” the statement said.