By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has opened talks with petroleum marketers and labour unions to avert a planned strike over Dangote Refinery’s alleged monopolistic control of the sector.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had threatened to suspend lifting and dispensing of fuel for three days starting September 9, 2025, citing Dangote’s dominance across refining, storage, logistics, and retail.
PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, said stakeholders and regulators were already in consultations. He stressed the need for a “clearly defined role for all players” to protect competition and ensure Nigerians are served efficiently.
NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of exploitative labour practices, including restricting union membership for drivers of imported compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks. The union warned that the trend amounted to “modern slavery.”
Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi appealed for calm, urging unions to suspend the planned action. He said the government’s intervention aimed to preserve stability in Nigeria’s critical petroleum sector.
The Dangote Group has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
