Fuel Scarcity Looms as NUPENG Announces Nationwide Strike Over Dangote CNG Trucks

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared that its members will embark on a nationwide strike starting Monday, September 8, 2025, citing alleged anti-union labour practices linked to the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery.

The announcement was made in a joint statement signed by NUPENG’s National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale.

The union recalled that on June 14, 2025, Dangote Group chairman Aliko Dangote unveiled plans to import 4,000 CNG-powered trucks—later expanded to 10,000—for the nationwide distribution of petroleum and diesel products. While the move was initially seen as a positive investment in the downstream oil sector, NUPENG and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) raised concerns about its broader implications.

According to NUPENG, a meeting was held on June 23, 2025, with Dangote’s representative, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, where they were informed that the trucks would operate under a new framework excluding existing trade unions.

The union alleged that recruitment for truck drivers began on August 29, 2025, with applicants reportedly required to sign undertakings not to join oil and gas industry unions—a move it described as a violation of workers’ rights.

“The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing unions is a matter of serious concern to us. This requirement does not align with Nigeria’s Constitution, labour legislation, or international conventions on freedom of association,” the statement read.

NUPENG cited Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, and Nigeria’s ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 87 as guarantees of workers’ freedom of association. It also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to enforce Section 32 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to curb restrictive practices in the sector.

Despite efforts to engage government agencies and stakeholders, the union said no meaningful resolution had been reached.

“Having exhausted all available avenues of dialogue, we are left with no option but to embark on a nationwide industrial action beginning Monday, September 8, 2025,” NUPENG declared.

While stressing that the strike was not intended to inflict hardship, the union maintained that it was necessary to defend workers’ rights and preserve fair competition in the downstream sector.

It appealed for public understanding and called for solidarity from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG has also been advised to begin preparing for alternative employment or training if the issue remains unresolved.

The union urged the Federal Government to intervene immediately to ensure compliance with labour laws. At the time of filing this report, Dangote Group had yet to respond to NUPENG’s claims.