In response to an alleged violation of the agreement struck on the unionization of workers employed by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vowed to resume its paused industrial action.
In a save-our-soul statement that he provided to reporters on Thursday, NUPENG President Comrade Williams Akporeha echoed the threat.
On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Akporeha claimed that Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, a member of the Dangote Group’s management team, had told all of his truck drivers who have been members of NUPENG-PTD for a number of years to take the union stickers off of their vehicles.
Additionally, NUPENG claimed that on Thursday, Dangote Group ordered the drivers to drive forcibly into the refinery grounds in order to load, but union officials prevented them from doing so because their trucks did not comply with union loading guidelines.
Remember how the Federal Government mediated a peace agreement between Dangote management and organized labor members, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, through Muhammad Dingyadi, Minister of Labor and Employment?
However, the strike was suspended on Tuesday as a result of the laborious attempts to broker a truce.
“This is to alert the general public and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that despite the resolution reached and signed at the office of the DSS with three ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Director General of the DSS in attendance on the right of unionization of the workers, Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 instructed all his truck drivers who are NUPENG-PTD members for several years to remove the union stickers from their trucks yesterday,” NUPENG stated on Thursday, indicating that the peace effort appears to have collapsed.
He told them to drive into the Dangote Refinery with force today, Thursday, September 11, 2025, in order to load, but union authorities prevented them from doing so because their trucks did not comply with union loading guidelines.
After repeatedly flying over them in his helicopter, Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata summoned the Federal Republic’s Navy to arrive with the intention of crushing the union officials.
“Our members are anticipating being run over by him and his operatives. We strongly condemn Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s haughty attitude toward the official institutions of this great nation and his flagrant disregard for its laws, and we urge everyone to let him know that he is no bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We urge the federal government to prevent the Navy and other security forces funded by American taxpayers from being utilized without consequence against the nation’s laws and citizens.
“Even if they do not follow the terms of agreements reached in meetings with Federal Republic of Nigeria ministers, security agents should not permit someone to ride roughshod with impunity.”
By issuing this statement, we are alerting all of our members to the possibility that the nationwide industrial action that has been suspended will resume. We are also urging the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, all regional and international working people, and civil society organizations to stand together in solidarity against this threat posed by the capitalist world.
“He cannot be above the law because of his money. We promise the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s citizens and administration that NUPENG would always be a responsible, patriotic, and responsive organization to this wonderful nation.
“Because the union makes us strong, our solidarity never wavers!”
Dangote Refinery: Union Membership Is Optional, Not Required
In the meantime, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reiterated that, in compliance with the Nigerian constitution and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions, membership in any trade union is still entirely voluntary.
The business emphasized that it does not impede or limit its workers’ freedom to join legally recognized trade unions.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) allegedly misrepresented information about the refinery’s trade ties with its employees, prompting the firm to release the statement.
Dangote Refinery emphasized that trade union membership is still a personal decision and reiterated its commitment to both Nigerian and international labor regulations.
The refinery flatly disputed reports that drivers were coerced into signing contracts that prohibited them from joining a union.
Instead of involving Dangote in its disputes with the unit, it suggested that NUPENG concentrate on resolving its disagreement with Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTDs).
Therefore, it is incorrect to hold Dangote Petroleum Refinery accountable for drivers’ individual decisions over union affiliation, the business said.
Dangote also rejected claims of union repression as baseless, seeing them as a component of a larger effort to sabotage private sector advancement. The business reaffirmed its dedication to worker welfare and workplace safety as well as its longtime support for labor rights.
By giving them office space, an operating vehicle within the refinery, and complete access to their members and operations, Dangote Petroleum Refinery insisted that it had consistently supported labor unions, including NUPENG.
All recognized trade unions, including NUPENG, have a friendly and cooperative relationship with Dangote Petroleum Refinery. As stated in the statement, “We have continuously supported their lawful activities within our facility, including offering office space and facilitating member engagement and dues collection without interfering.”
It urged NUPENG to put communication above disruption and reaffirmed its support for the Ministry of Labor’s ongoing mediation efforts.
It stated, “We implore NUPENG to behave honorably, respect the current dialogue process, and abstain from remarks that might jeopardize the efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to revive the nation’s economy.”
Dangote Industries Limited, the biggest employer in the private sector in Nigeria, claimed to follow internationally recognized standards. Its status as one of Africa’s most desirable employers is largely due to its commitment to the welfare, safety, and career advancement of its employees.
Teams of drivers, engineers, and logistics staff made up the company’s new fleet of vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). In addition to group insurance, pensions, medical allowances, housing benefits, and housing loans, drivers receive compensation packages that are three times more than the National Minimum Wage.
The deployment of 10,000 CNG-powered trucks is expected to create at least 60,000 direct jobs and numerous indirect jobs, supporting economic inclusion and poverty alleviation rather than endangering jobs. By reducing logistical costs, improving distribution, and guaranteeing that rural areas profit from domestic refining, this N720 billion investment supports the Federal Government’s energy reform agenda.
Nigeria has changed from being Africa’s biggest importer of refined fuel to a net exporter, reaching markets such as the United States, since the refinery was put into service a little more than a year ago. The refinery is promoting growth in manufacturing, plastics, aviation, lubricants, and agro-processing by producing high-value by-products like polypropylene, base oils, and jet fuel.
Dangote further highlighted how its domestic LPG production helps households switch to LPG and lessens their dependency on imported fuel, which has historically put a burden on foreign exchange reserves. This contributes to cleaner energy.
Once a recurrent crisis, fuel scarcity has mostly been resolved, with prices stabilizing and assistance reaching individuals, businesses, and transportation operators. Dangote has continuously provided premium refined fuel via reliable routes, despite obstacles from certain market participants importing inferior goods.
Over 570,000 employment in the construction, maintenance, and logistics industries have been generated by the refinery’s operations. Better roads, electricity, and water supplies have benefited the surrounding towns.
Additionally, the refinery has developed into a hub for technology advancement and skill transfer, teaching thousands of Nigerian engineers and technicians contemporary refining methods.
In closing, Dangote reaffirmed its dedication to the nation’s progress.
Regarding monopoly accusations, we dismiss them as rehashed lies. The bigger issue is that people who have the resources to invest in Nigeria are choosing to stay out of the country. We at Dangote have made the bold decision to invest in Nigeria’s future, and we will keep doing so. “It’s time for others to do the same,” the statement said.
