Three major oil and gas associations — the Natural Oil & Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) — have announced plans to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The strike, which began Monday morning, stems from NUPENG’s opposition to Dangote Refinery’s decision to recruit thousands of drivers for its new fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks under a condition that bars them from joining existing trade unions.
Although the industrial action is yet to cause major disruptions, NUPENG leaders are expected to meet with federal government officials later today in an attempt to resolve the standoff.
At a joint press briefing in Abuja, NOGASA President Benneth Korie said the association had no choice but to withdraw its services nationwide in solidarity.
He expressed concern over the refinery’s direct supply of products to end-users such as telecom operators, hotels, and construction firms, warning it could lead to job losses and disrupt the traditional distribution chain.
“We requested a meeting with the Dangote Refinery to find a balanced solution, but no response has come.
“If this continues, we will suspend our services nationwide,” Korie stated, urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, also condemned what he described as “monopolistic and anti-competition practices” by Dangote Group.
While acknowledging the refinery’s investment in new trucks and infrastructure, he warned against policies that could undermine the 30,000 trucks and thousands of jobs sustained by NARTO members.
“Any attempt to eliminate the existing distribution structure will destroy investments, threaten energy security, and exploit consumers in the long run,” Othman said.
PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, added that Dangote’s model was unsustainable and against the long-term interest of Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.
With the three associations joining NUPENG, the strike is expected to intensify nationwide unless urgent dialogue is initiated between the federal government, the refinery, and stakeholders in the distribution chain.
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