The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) members have stated that it will start sourcing for alternative employment from September 8 over the refusal of Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote refinery, to allow his newly-employed compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered tanker drivers “labour unions”.
The union denounced the “anti-union practices” of Dangote and Sayyu Aliu Dantata, founder of MRS Group of Companies, in a statement released in Abuja on Friday and jointly signed by NUPENG president Williams Akporeha and general secretary Afolabi Olawale.
“Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) condemns in absolute terms the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional anti-union practices of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata,” the statement reads.
“Meanwhile, since Alh 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 employments/skills and sources of livelihoods.”
The Dangote refinery announced on 15 June that it would start distributing fuel and diesel across the country on 15 August.
The refinery added that in order to improve distribution, it purchased 4,000 new CNG-powered tankers.
NUPENG’s statement claims that after the refinery’s announcement, the union met with Dantata to get clarity.
“In a brutally cold and crude manner, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata informed NUPENG and NARTO leaders that the truck drivers they will recruit will not be allowed to join any existing union, but a new union will be formed for them,” the association said.
“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union have made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alh Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alh Sayyu Ali Dantata to follow 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, 29th August 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.”
During a meeting where Dantata represented Dangote, NUPENG stated that the recruitment’s condition of not joining an existing union “is the implementation of the position declared to us by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata on 23rd of June, 2025.”
NUPENG also worry over the business practices of Dantata and Dangote “who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits”.
“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and voice amounts to creating filthy wealth,” the association said.
“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers. NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning.”
The group bemoaned the fact that the refinery’s hiring process was carried out with “no justice or inclusiveness.”
NUPENG also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to step in and encourage private sector involvement and competition in midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
The group also demanded that the federal government and its representatives “call the two trillionaire businessmen to order.”
They urged the public to bear any inconveniences from their actions, calling on unions and labour bodies to stand in solidarity through peaceful and industrial actions.
“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 mobilize its forces to fight within the framework of the law,” the statement reads.
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