Dangote sponsoring division among tanker drivers — NUPENG

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of sponsoring division within its Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, resisting workers’ rights to unionisation, and deploying what it described as “falsehoods” to undermine the union.

NUPENG also accused the company of using a “Greek gift” of free nationwide petroleum delivery to undermine the union and stifle competition.

In a statement signed by its National Executive President, Williams Akporeha, and the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, on Friday, the union dismissed a press release by the Dangote Group on Thursday as “an epitome of unconscionable capitalist falsehood aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians and crushing NUPENG.”

On Thursday, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery dismissed recent allegations made by the NUPENG that it banned tanker drivers from joining the union, insisting that claims of anti-labour practices, monopolistic behaviour, and planned fuel price hikes are “entirely unfounded”.

NUPENG, on Monday, shut down depots, protesting that the Dangote refinery did not allow the newly recruited drivers for its 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks to join the union.

The shutdown of depots lasted till Tuesday, when it was suspended following an agreement reached by both parties at a meeting organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

However, on Thursday, NUPENG said Dangote was not ready to abide by the terms of the agreement.

But in a statement made available to our correspondent by the spokesman for the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the company stated that the allegations that it was undermining union activities and threatening workers’ welfare through its new deployment of CNG-powered trucks were not true.

The Dangote refinery reiterated its full support for constitutionally protected labour rights, stating that employees are free to affiliate with any recognised trade union.

Reacting on Friday, NUPENG alleged that despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding on September 9, which it said acknowledged the company’s initial resistance to unionisation, the Dangote refinery on September 11, 2025, instructed drivers to remove NUPENG stickers from their trucks and replace them with those of the newly formed Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, allegedly created by the management.

“Our members have stoutly resisted this development,” the statement said, adding that the refinery has been attempting to sponsor parallel structures within the PTD branch since 2023 by recruiting members who had lost union elections into the DTCDA.

NUPENG also linked some of the individuals supporting the company in the media to ongoing criminal cases.

The union further warned Nigerians against what it described as the “Greek gift” of free nationwide petroleum delivery by the Dangote refinery, alleging that the move was designed to stifle competition and force drivers into the company-controlled association.

“It is on record that Dangote Group does not allow unionisation in its cement and sugar plants across Nigeria”, NUPENG claimed, stressing that the same anti-union stance is now being extended to refinery workers.

The union called on Nigerians and the international community to resist any attempt to deny refinery workers and drivers their right to freedom of association and unionisation, warning that its leaders must not be harmed in the course of the struggle.

“Our solidarity remains constant, for the union makes us strong”, the statement concluded.

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