Efforts to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) dragged late into Monday night without a breakthrough, despite intervention by the Federal Government.
The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity had convened a marathon meeting involving all stakeholders in Abuja, but disagreements over unionisation of workers prevented the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Marathon Talks Hit a Deadlock
The closed-door meeting, which began late on Monday evening due to the delayed arrival of union representatives, was co-chaired by Labour Minister Muhammed Dingyadi and Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiru Onyejeocha. Present at the talks were executives of NUPENG, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and officials of the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum.
Although draft resolutions were read out, Dangote officials reportedly objected to some of the conditions, forcing negotiations to drag past 10:00 pm.
Fuel Loading Paralysed Nationwide
Meanwhile, NUPENG members enforced a total shutdown of fuel loading across depots on Monday, following allegations that the Dangote Refinery had barred tanker drivers from unionising.
Petroleum tanker drivers complied fully with the union’s directive not to lift fuel, leaving trucks parked in depots across Lagos, Warri, and other cities. Filling stations in parts of the country also shut down, including the Aradel Refinery in Port Harcourt and the Kwale Hydrocarbon facility in Delta State.
NUPENG President Williams Akporeha confirmed “100 per cent compliance nationwide,” as union officials visited depots to ensure enforcement. In Sokoto, members shut down filling stations and blocked major highways, sparking fears of imminent fuel scarcity.
A commercial tricycle operator, Bello Musa, lamented the development:
> “I came out early to work and found that most filling stations are closed. If this continues, transport fares will go up, and it will affect everybody.”
Growing Labour Solidarity
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declared solidarity with NUPENG, warning that it could escalate the shutdown if workers’ rights at the Dangote Refinery were not respected.
In a statement, General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa accused the refinery’s management of resisting unionisation since inception, describing the move as a violation of labour rights.
> “The right of workers to organise and collectively bargain is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for promoting fair labour practices,” PENGASSAN said, warning that continued resistance could force a joint shutdown of operations.
Suppliers, Marketers Threaten to Join Strike
The crisis widened as the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) also threatened to join the strike.
NOGASA President Bennett Korie directed members supplying petroleum products to industries, hotels, and telecom sites to halt deliveries from Tuesday morning if dialogue failed. Similarly, PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry instructed members to suspend fuel sales from midnight.
While the Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) appealed for a quick resolution, stakeholders warned that a prolonged shutdown could trigger nationwide fuel scarcity and economic disruption.
What Lies Ahead
As of late Monday night, negotiations were still ongoing in Abuja, but no concrete resolution had been reached. With depots and stations already shut, concerns are mounting that the standoff between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery could escalate into a full-blown fuel crisis unless urgent compromises are made.
