The much-anticipated reconciliatory meeting between Dangote Refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) ended in a deadlock on Monday night after representatives of Dangote Group walked out of the session.
The meeting, which dragged on for nearly seven hours in Abuja, was co-chaired by the Minister of Labour, Muhammed Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiru Onyejeocha.
Present were NUPENG’s national executives, officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ogbugo Ukoha, alongside representatives of MRS Petroleum.
Speaking after the talks, NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment at the turn of events.
“The representative of the Dangote refinery walked out on the minister and organised labour. So there was no agreement. Even when we bent backwards to accommodate his uncompromising behaviour, he still did what he had to do. So we are left with no option but to do the needful. The action continues,” Upah told journalists.
Roots of the Dispute
NUPENG had earlier declared a nationwide strike beginning September 8, 2025, warning that the industrial action could trigger severe fuel scarcity across the country.
The dispute originated from Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution. While the rollout—initially slated for August 15—was delayed due to logistics issues in China, the refinery maintained that operations would commence once a significant number of trucks arrived.
However, the union accused Dangote of introducing anti-labour practices that endangered the jobs of thousands of Petroleum Tanker Drivers. Specifically, NUPENG alleged that the refinery intended to bar newly recruited CNG truck drivers from joining any union, describing the move as a violation of the 1999 Constitution and international labour conventions.
Tensions escalated when MRS Petroleum, owned by Dangote’s cousin Sayyu Dantata, reportedly began recruiting drivers for the CNG trucks, compelling them to sign undertakings not to join oil and gas unions.
Failed Conciliation
Monday’s conciliation was expected to resolve the standoff. Although a draft Memorandum of Understanding was presented for review, objections by Dangote Group officials to certain clauses derailed the process, prompting the walkout and leaving the talks in stalemate.
With the industrial action still in force, concerns are mounting over nationwide fuel scarcity if the crisis persists.
