Dare Babalola
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused Dangote Refinery and its management of attempting to revive slavery in Nigeria’s workforce.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday, signed by NUPENG’s President, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olufemi, the union’s General Secretary.
The union insisted that it is embarking on strike action on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Recall that stakeholders including the Petrol Tanker Drivers and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) had earlier kicked against the directives of NUPENG to down tools over anti-labour activities by Dangote Refinery.
Responding, NUPENG described the group as “Dangote-sponsored”, insisting that they cannot stop its planned strike action.
NUPENG claimed that DTCDA is the recruiting company that was formed by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the 10,000 CNG trucks they are importing, dismissing the association as an unauthorised union for tanker drivers.
The association said, “For the information of the public, the DTCDA is the association which the Dangote Group of Companies has formed for the drivers to join compulsorily rather than allowing drivers to join NUPENG, which is the only statutorily recognised union authorised to unionise petroleum tanker drivers.
“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.”
