The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its two-day nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited and the Federal Government.
NUPENG’s president, Williams Akporeha, confirmed on Tuesday that the strike was called off following a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment. The meeting brought together representatives from the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Dangote refinery management agreed to allow workers to unionise in line with Nigeria’s labour laws. The process is expected to begin immediately and be completed within two weeks (September 9–22, 2025).
Key resolutions from the MoU include:
- Employees of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals are free to unionise.
- The process must be completed within two weeks.
- No worker will be victimised for participating in the strike or joining a union.
- The refinery management will not create a separate in-house union.
The MoU was signed by Sayyu Dantata (Dangote Group), Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale (NUPENG), OK Ukoha (NMDPRA), Amos Falonipe (Labour Ministry), and representatives of the NLC and TUC.
Fuel Scarcity Impact
Although the strike lasted just two days, it had a nationwide impact. Filling stations in Kaduna, Cross River, Enugu, Sokoto, and Lagos shut down, while pump prices surged as high as ₦1,500 per litre on the black market. Transport fares doubled in several states, leaving commuters stranded.
In Calabar, fares rose from ₦300 to ₦500 due to scarcity, while in Kaduna, nearly all major filling stations were closed. In Enugu, petrol stations shut by noon, forcing residents to turn to black-market sellers. In Anambra and Gombe, motorists also faced steep hikes as fuel prices climbed above ₦900 per litre.
By contrast, Jos, Kano, Zamfara, and Ilorin recorded minimal disruptions.
Union’s Position
Speaking on the strike, NUPENG president Akporeha stressed that the industrial action was not meant to sabotage Dangote’s refinery but to protect workers’ rights.
“Everybody wants Dangote to succeed, including NUPENG. But he must play by the rules. Nigeria cannot afford investors who act like dictators or slave drivers,” he said.
With the strike now suspended, normal fuel distribution is expected to resume on Wednesday.
