By Daberechi Uwajie
ABUJA, Sept. 12, 2025 – The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has warned that it may resume its suspended nationwide strike following an alleged breach of agreement by the Dangote Group.
The union made this known in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Mr. Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr. Afolabi Olawale, on Thursday in Abuja.
According to NUPENG, the Dangote Group violated a peace agreement recently brokered by the Federal Government. The pact was signed on Tuesday at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure industrial harmony.
“On September 10, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata instructed all his truck drivers, who have been members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG for several years, to remove union stickers from their trucks.
“On September 11, he further directed the drivers to storm the Dangote Refinery for loading, in spite of our officials blocking them over violations of established loading rules and regulations.
“We are, by this statement, placing all our members on red alert for the possible resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action,” the union said.
The oil workers’ union urged organised labour and civil society organisations to resist what it described as “threats from the capitalist class.”
“We call on everyone to let Alhaji Sayyu Dantata know that he is not bigger than Nigeria.
“We strongly condemn his disregard for official institutions of this great country,” the statement added.
NUPENG also cautioned against the use of security agencies to intimidate workers and appealed to the Federal Government to intervene promptly in the matter.
The union further called for solidarity from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society groups, stressing that workers’ rights must be defended at all costs. GMTNewsng
