Nigeria TV Info

Fuel Scarcity Looms as NUPENG, Dangote Refinery Clash

LAGOS — Nigerians may experience fuel scarcity next week following a looming strike by tanker drivers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The union has threatened to halt fuel loading over a brewing conflict with the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The standoff stems from the refinery’s plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers. Although the rollout, initially scheduled for August 15, was delayed due to logistics issues in China, the refinery confirmed it would commence operations once a sufficient number of trucks arrive.

However, in a statement jointly signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union accused the refinery’s management of “anti-labour practices” that threaten the livelihoods of its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers Branch members.

According to NUPENG, refinery founder Aluko Dangote allegedly insisted that newly recruited drivers for the CNG trucks would not be allowed to join any union. The union condemned this as a violation of workers’ rights to freedom of association, protected under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.

“The position of the Dangote refinery is a direct affront to democratic rights and a breach of international labour laws to which Nigeria is a signatory,” the statement read in part.

With both parties holding firm positions, the looming impasse raises fears of fuel shortages across the country if tanker drivers make good their threat to down tools.