NIGERIA may face petrol scarcity from Monday if the Nigerian government does not intervene into the rift between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG).

NUPENG is accusing Dangote refnery of forcing drivers to sign agreements that will prevent them from joining existing unions in the oil and gas industry. NUPENG insisted on Sunday night that it would be going on strike on Monday over what it described as ‘slavery’ by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Its President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olufemi, said in a statement on Sunday that the union will begin a strike action on Monday over anti-labour activities by Dangote Refinery.

NUPENG claimed that Dangote Group had formed a union known as DTCDA to weaken the ranks of petroleum tanker drivers, noting that it is an unauthorised union for tanker drivers.

READ ALSO: Marketers ask FG to stop Dangote refinery petrol monopoly

“Slavery ended centuries ago, but some unscrupulous capitalists are making efforts to bring it back. Any worker who cannot exercise the right of association is no better than a slave. Ordinary Nigerians should neither encourage nor support slavish working conditions,” the union said.

The union alleged that Dangote Petroleum Refinery is attempting to impose ‘modern slavery’ on Nigerian workers by limiting their right to join associations or freedom of association, calling on the citizens not to support predatory labour practices.

Falana knocks Dangote Petroleum Refinery

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, criticised Dangote refinery’s alleged encroachment on drivers’ right to freedom of association. In a Sunday statement, Mr Falana said the policy of the Dangote Group contravenes Section 40 of the Constitution, Section 12 of the Trade Union Act, and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

He said the act further contravenes the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) of the International Labour Organisation, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, among others, which Nigeria is a signatory to.

“In view of the legal obligations imposed on the Federal Government of Nigeria by the Constitution, Trade Union Act, and international law to respect the fundamental rights of workers to freedom of association, the Registrar of Trade Unions should call Dangote Petroleum Refinery to order without delay,” Mr Falana said.

READ ALSO: Dangote’s petrol price is higher than imported PMS – Marketers

“At the same time, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should halt the monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group forthwith, as they violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018,” he noted.

PETROAN joins strike

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), on Saturday, had given a three-day notice for its planned suspension of lifting and dispensing of petroleum products from Tuesday.

Its President, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, said in a statement that, “the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced a three-day forewarning of suspension of lifting and dispensing of petroleum products commencing from the early hours of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in their advocacy for healthy competition as against any form of monopoly in the Nigerian Petroleum downstream sector.”

Meanhile, Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Muhammad Dingyadi, has called for an emergency meeting between the management of Dangote Group and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday.  The meeting is targeted at resolving the looming crisis.

Petrol scarcity looms

If NUPENG begins the strike on Monday, the economy of Africa’s most populous nation could be badly hurt as several workers will be stranded while transport costs will skyrocket.

“Any strike will cripple the Nigerian economy,” said a Lagos-based economist, Mr Obinna Ngoka. “Workers will be stranded. Petrol stations will be shut down and black market traders will sell a litre at N1500. As a result, some shops that require petrol for operation will remain closed. The ripple effect on the economy will be huge. It will cost Nigeria about N1 trillion to shut down the economy each day,” he warned.