KEY POINTS
- NUPENG suspends two-day strike after Dangote agrees to unionisation.
- Fuel shortages hit multiple Nigerian cities with pump price hikes.
- Unionisation process to run Sept. 9–22, supervised by labour ministry.
Nigeria’s main oil workers’ union has called off a two-day strike that caused fuel shortages across the country after reaching a deal with the Dangote Group and the federal government on Tuesday.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said the suspension followed an agreement allowing employees of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant to unionise, further addressing long-standing tensions between the company and tanker drivers.
Dangote bows to pressure on labour rights
At a conciliation meeting convened by Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi, Dangote executives agreed that workers at its refinery and petrochemical unit could join existing unions in line with Nigeria’s labour laws. Furthermore the process will run from Sept. 9–22 and must also be completed without management interference.
The memorandum of understanding also prohibits victimisation of workers who join unions. It was signed by Dangote executive Sayyu Dantata, NUPENG officials Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and labour ministry officials.
Fuel disruption hits consumers nationwide
The strike, which entered its second day before Tuesday’s suspension, led to long queues and closed filling stations in Lagos, Ogun, Cross River, Kaduna, Sokoto and Enugu states. Some retailers hiked pump prices, while commuters faced higher transport fares.
In Calabar, taxi fares jumped by more than 60 percent as drivers turned to black-market fuel at as much as ₦1,500 per litre. While in Kaduna, major filling stations locked their gates, paralysing business activity.
Background to the standoff
NUPENG launched the action after accusing Africa’s largest refinery of barring its newly recruited 4,000 truck drivers from joining the union. The refinery, which plans to begin direct fuel distribution using compressed natural gas-powered trucks, has faced repeated delays in deploying the fleet due to shipping constraints.
Union leaders also argued that Dangote’s logistics model threatened their members’ livelihoods. The government intervened over the weekend but failed to secure a truce at a Monday meeting, forcing depots and outlets to remain shut until Tuesday’s breakthrough.
What’s next
The parties must report back to the labour ministry after concluding the unionisation process. Analysts warn further disruptions may follow if the agreement falters, and NUPENG has vowed to resume industrial action if commitments go unmet.
