Nigeria stands at the edge of another fuel crisis, and this time, the battlefield isn’t just oil depots but the boardrooms of Africa’s richest man. The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has drawn a line in the sand, insisting on strike action despite ongoing meetings with the Federal Government and other stakeholders. At the heart of the storm? Dangote Industries, accused of anti-union practices and high-handedness.
This is not just a labour dispute. It is a test of power: the unions versus Dangote, the so-called “shadow president of Nigeria’s economy.”
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed that the Federal Government had reached out to the union on the need to avert the strike. He, however, insisted that the industrial action would go ahead, pending the outcome of the meeting with the government today (Monday).
The union had on Friday announced that it would begin an industrial action on September 8, 2025, a development that could lead to fuel scarcity. Its decision stemmed from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers.
The Crisis Unfolds
On Monday, NUPENG confirmed that tanker drivers, loaders, and depot workers are prepared to down tools nationwide if Dangote Industries does not recognize and respect their rights to unionise.
The strike threat has already sparked panic across filling stations in Lagos and Abuja, with long queues forming in anticipation of fuel shortages.
FG officials rushed into emergency talks to avert a crisis that could cripple Nigeria’s fragile economy, but union leaders insist they will not back down unless concrete commitments are made.
The Dangote Factor
Dangote Refinery is not just another private business—it is the single largest oil refining project in Africa, touted as the game-changer for Nigeria’s decades-long dependence on imported fuel. But with that power comes controversy.
Union leaders allege that Dangote Industries has deliberately frustrated workers’ attempts to join NUPENG, citing intimidation and contractual loopholes designed to sideline labour voices.
In their words, “Dangote cannot enjoy the privileges of operating in Nigeria while denying Nigerian workers their fundamental rights.”
FG In The Hot Seat
The Federal Government finds itself in a tight corner. On one hand, Dangote is Nigeria’s prized industrialist, the face of economic nationalism, and a major partner in Tinubu’s push for self-sufficiency.
On the other, alienating unions like NUPENG could spark unrest not just in the oil sector, but across labour movements nationwide—emboldening ASUU, ASUP, and even NLC to adopt harder stances.
For President Tinubu, whose government is already reeling from inflation, high fuel prices, and public anger, this standoff couldn’t have come at a worse time.
A Game Of Control
This is bigger than fuel. It’s about who really controls Nigeria’s economy, the elected government or the oligarchs who dictate supply chains?
If NUPENG backs down, Dangote emerges stronger than ever, setting a dangerous precedent for private monopolies to sideline unions.
If the unions hold their ground, they could redefine labour’s role in Nigeria’s privatized industries, forcing accountability on billionaires who often operate above scrutiny.
NUPENG vs Dangote
Nigeria has seen countless fuel strikes before—but this one is different. It pits one of the most powerful labour unions against the continent’s richest man, with the Federal Government caught in the middle.
If NUPENG blinks first, Dangote will tighten his grip on the economy. If Dangote concedes, unions will reclaim their place as the last line of defence for Nigerian workers.
Either way, the outcome of this standoff could shape Nigeria’s labour–capital relations for years to come.
