The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to resume its suspended nationwide strike, accusing the Dangote Group of breaching a peace agreement.
The union explained that the deal, signed on Tuesday at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja, was intended to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure stability in the oil and gas sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG said it had placed all its members on “red alert” for a possible resumption of strike action. The union warned that failure to resolve the dispute swiftly could trigger major disruptions in fuel distribution nationwide.
According to the statement, the dispute began on 10 September when Alhaji Sayyu Dantata allegedly directed his truck drivers—who are members of NUPENG’s Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch—to remove union stickers from their vehicles. On 11 September, the drivers were reportedly instructed to storm the Dangote Refinery for loading, despite objections from NUPENG officials, who accused them of violating established loading procedures.
“We are, by this statement, placing all our members on red alert for the possible resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action,” the union leaders declared.
NUPENG further accused Dantata of disrespecting national institutions and warned against the use of security agencies to intimidate workers.
“We call on everyone to let Alhaji Sayyu Dantata know that he is not bigger than Nigeria. We strongly condemn his disregard for the official institutions of this great country,” the statement added.
The union urged the Federal Government to intervene promptly and called for solidarity from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society organisations, insisting that workers’ rights must be defended at all times.
