The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery of running a campaign of falsehood, union suppression, and division within its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch.
In a strongly worded statement dated September 12, 2025, and titled “Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s School of Falsification Exposed,” the union said Dangote deliberately undermines workers’ rights while disguising its actions as corporate benevolence.
Allegations of Falsehood and Union-Busting
NUPENG claimed Dangote’s press release of September 11 “confirmed the company as an epitome of an unconscionable capitalist network built on falsehood to hoodwink the gullible.” The union said the ultimate goal is to weaken NUPENG, eliminate competition, and later raise fuel prices.
It rejected claims of internal division, accusing the company of fabricating the story to mislead the public. According to NUPENG, if a faction existed, Dangote should have asked such a group to stop the recent nationwide strike by tanker drivers. The strike, it said, was “effective, peaceful, and one hundred percent successful.”
MoU and Sticker Dispute
NUPENG said Dangote resisted unionisation before signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on September 9, 2025. It argued that the MoU itself proved the company’s initial refusal to allow workers freedom of association.
Despite the agreement, the refinery allegedly ordered on September 11 that NUPENG stickers be removed from trucks. It directed drivers to replace them with stickers of the newly created Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA). The union insisted its members resisted this directive, calling DTCDA a management-imposed body.
Sponsoring Division Within PTD
According to the union, Dangote has sponsored division in the PTD branch since 2023. It claimed the company supported members who repeatedly lost internal elections, then recruited them to form DTCDA. These individuals, NUPENG added, have also appeared in the media defending the refinery.
Criminal Allegations Against Company-Backed Supporters
The union named Dayyabu Garga and Sylvamus Idanwekhai as two individuals backing Dangote in the media. It said Garga, who spoke on BBC Hausa, and Idanwekhai, who appeared on TVC, face trial in Charge No. CR/042/23 at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
NUPENG alleged that both men participated in violent attacks against PTD leaders. It said thugs beat its General Secretary into a coma during one of the attacks before doctors revived him in hospital. The union stressed that the trial remains ongoing and verifiable.
Warning on “Greek Gift” Deliveries
NUPENG also warned Nigerians not to accept Dangote’s offer of free nationwide delivery of petroleum products. It described the move as a “Greek gift” designed to push other employers out of business and force drivers to remain with Dangote under DTCDA.
“This strategy,” the statement said, “targets NUPENG and its PTD branch.”
Wider Labour Rights Concerns
The union added that administrative and operational workers at the refinery also face restrictions on union membership. It argued that Dangote has blocked unionisation at its cement and sugar plants nationwide, making the refinery’s conduct part of a wider anti-labour pattern.
It urged Nigerians to reject any arrangement that denies workers freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Safety and Solidarity
NUPENG ended the statement with a warning. It said nothing should happen to its leaders, accusing Dangote of using “desperate capitalist tactics” when threatened.
“Our solidarity remains constant, for the union makes us strong,” the union concluded.
The statement carried the signatures of Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha, National Executive President, and Comrade Bafolabi Olawale, General Secretary.