The Dangote Refinery has assured Nigerians that the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will not disrupt petrol supply across the country.
The strike, which began on Monday and has since received support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and international labour organisations, centres on allegations that the refinery is hiring drivers under conditions that restrict their right to unionise.
In a statement on Tuesday, refinery spokesman Anthony Chiejina dismissed fears of fuel scarcity, stressing that operations remain stable.
“There is no fuel shortage, everything is going on,” he said, adding that discussions are ongoing between the union, the Federal Government, and the company.
The Dangote Group denied claims that new drivers were barred from joining unions, describing the allegations as “cheap blackmail.” Chiejina maintained that no such restrictions exist within the company.
NUPENG, however, has accused the refinery of anti-union practices. Its president, Williams Akporeha, told Arise News that Dangote was not prepared to employ workers who could influence company policies, a position that has attracted solidarity from local and global labour bodies, including IndustriALL Global Union and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers network.
Since commencing operations last year, the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery has reshaped Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, reducing consumer petrol prices and challenging entrenched players long criticised for inefficiency and corruption.
At the same time, monopoly concerns have intensified as the refinery consolidates its influence in the sector.
The refinery had announced plans to deploy thousands of compressed natural gas-powered trucks to strengthen distribution, though rollout has been delayed by logistics challenges.
The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on the country’s ageing fleet of diesel-powered tankers, estimated at more than 20,000.
As negotiations continue, market observers say the outcome of the dispute could set an important precedent for labour relations in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector. For now, the refinery has reassured consumers that supply remains uninterrupted.