Lagos, Sept. 12, 2025 – the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Thursday threatened to shut down Dangote Refinery as it plans to resume industrial action on the company.
NUPENG alleged that Dangote has reneged on some of the resolutions reached on Tuesday at the peace meeting brokered by the federal government
The union issued a statement signed by its President, Akporeha Williams and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, on Thursday accused the refinery of reneging on the resolutions reached at the last peace meeting.
The statement reads: “This is to alert the general public and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that notwithstanding 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 unionisation of the workers, Alhaji 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.
“Today, 11th September, 2025, he instructed them to forcefully drive into Dangote Refinery to load and Union officials stopped them from entering the Refinery to load because their trucks violated Union loading rules and regulations.
“Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the Navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the Union officials.
“Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over. We call on everyone to let Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata know that he is not bigger than the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we strongly condemn his arrogant attitude towards official institutions of this great country and blatant lack of respect for the laws of this country.
“We call on the Federal Government not to allow the Navy and other security agents being paid by the resources of this country to be used with impunity against the laws and people of this country. Security agents should not allow an individual to ride roughshod with impunity even while not observing terms of agreement reached in meetings in which security agents facilitated along with Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are by this statement placing all our members on red alert for the resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action and calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, all Regional and Global Working people and Civil Society Organisations to rise in support and solidarity against this threat of the Capitalist world.
“His wealth cannot make him above the law.”
However, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which responded through a statement last night, dismissed new allegations made by the NUPENG, insisting that claims of anti-labour practices, monopolistic behaviour, and planned fuel price hikes are “entirely unfounded.”
It reiterated its full support for constitutionally protected labour rights, adding that employees were free to affiliate with any recognised trade union.
Dangote said assertions that drivers were compelled to waive union rights are categorically false.
It said the dispute involved NUPENG’s Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit and did not implicate the refinery in any breach of rights.
