Nigeria’s fuel supply chain is hanging in the balance as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) pushes forward with its indefinite strike, after negotiations with the Dangote Group broke down dramatically.
Hopes of a resolution were dashed on Monday when Sayyu Dantata, representing Dangote, stormed out of a meeting convened by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi. At the heart of the deadlock is unionisation: Dangote insists union membership should remain optional, while NUPENG and its allies demand full access for all employees.
The walkout forced the session to be adjourned, with officials warning that prospects for a quick restart are slim.
NUPENG has vowed not to back down, declaring the strike indefinite and rallying the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for support.
Union president Williams Akporeha accused the Dangote Group of pursuing an “anti-union and monopolistic agenda”, warning it could erode workers’ rights and destabilize Nigeria’s industrial framework.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) also weighed in, stressing that excluding unions from workplaces violates Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act, and binding international conventions.
But the unity front is cracking. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), an affiliate of NUPENG, rejected the strike order, warning it could paralyze the economy. The PTD leadership has even called on the National Security Adviser, DSS, and police to intervene, heightening tensions within the labour movement itself.
With fuel distribution at risk, analysts warn that prolonged industrial action could trigger widespread disruptions, from petrol scarcity to higher energy costs. The federal government faces mounting pressure to find common ground before the standoff spirals into a full-blown economic crisis.
