Nigerians may experience fuel scarcity next week as tanker drivers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers threaten to stop fuel loading over the seeming cold war between them and the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The crisis is arising from the plan by the Dangote refinery to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks for the direct distribution of fuel to retailers. Though the scheme scheduled to commence on August 15 was delayed by logistics challenges in China, the refinery told our correspondent that it would flag it off when a good number of the trucks are received.

But NUPENG, in a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, on Friday, accused the management of the Dangote refinery of alleged anti-labour practices inimical to the survival and means of livelihoods of its members under its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Branch.

The union lamented that the founder of the refinery, Aluko Dangote, had said that new drivers would be recruited for the imported trucks, and none of them would be allowed to join any union. NUPENG described the position taken by the management of Dangote refinery as an affront to the right of association, guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, and a breach of relevant international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory.

It recalled several meetings it initiated, jointly with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, to prevail on Aliko Dangote to rescind his stance on not allowing its drivers to join trade unions. However, the Union expressed regret that its appeals were allegedly ignored.

“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the union has made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Ali Dantata, follow the line of global best practices and decency, but all to no avail.

“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG trucks on Friday, August 29, 2025. The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the oil and gas industry. NUPENG is seriously concerned and disturbed with the unconscionable business practices of Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits,” the statement read.

NUPENG said it would not stand idly by and watch while the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers, are destroyed. “NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning. We did so in good faith, in expectation that it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people, under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.

“Unfortunately, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has chosen to betray that trust by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, enslave the sector, and raise prices, which would ultimately result in an attack on the living standards of the masses of ordinary Nigerians. This is not philanthropy; it is economic sabotage,” it was stated.

While appealing to relevant oil industry regulatory agencies to wade into the unfolding crisis, the union threatened it would call on its members to down tools and shun loading of petroleum products, effective from Monday, September 8.

“Meanwhile, since Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin have resolved to replace all petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria, and there is no one or institution that can stop him, the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG will, from Monday, 8th September 2025, start looking for alternative employment/skills and sources of livelihoods.

“We plead with the general public to bear any inconveniences our struggle against this tyranny and indecency may cause; it is a struggle that must be waged! We call on all other industrial unions and the central labour organisations, the NLC, TUC, and global union federations, to get ready to stand in solidarity with peaceful mass actions and industrial actions in defending labour rights,” the union said.

It called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority to invoke its powers under Section 32(u) & (aa) of the Petroleum Industry Act to promote competition and private sector participation in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

“The Authority has the responsibility to identify, investigate, and prevent abuse of dominant positions and restrictive business practices with regard to midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

“Any practice or policy by any employer which seeks to deprive workers of the right of association is an affront to the Constitution. Above all, the right of association, including membership of trade unions, is guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution. Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, should not be allowed to enslave Nigerian workers. They should be made to be lawful businesspersons and not lawless individuals or business outfits. Nigeria is a country of laws, not a lawless society.

“By this statement, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, including well-meaning segments of the Nigerian society, to call the two trillionaire businessmen to order. They should be told to obey the laws of Nigeria. If they persist in their anti-union tyrannical attitudes, NUPENG is set and ready to mobilise its forces to fight within the framework of the law,” the statement added.

Dangote spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, has yet to reply to messages sent to him by our correspondent.

The 4,000 CNG trucks being imported by Dangote for the direct supply of fuel have triggered diverse reactions from oil marketers, tanker drivers, road transport unions, and other industry stakeholders.

The dispute between tanker drivers and the Dangote refinery comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, as the country seeks to stabilise fuel distribution and cut reliance on imported refined products. The $20bn Dangote refinery, inaugurated in May 2023, has been hailed as a game changer for Nigeria’s energy security, with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

However, its new plan to import and operate 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks has sparked labour concerns over potential job losses for members of NUPENG. NUPENG’s threat to halt fuel loading highlights fears of a wider labour confrontation that could disrupt petroleum product supply nationwide, potentially leading to fuel scarcity if not resolved.