Dangote Refinery NUPENG Dispute deepens as the company challenges union on \$18bn spent on government refineries and defends workers’ union rights

Dangote Group challenged the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to reveal those responsible for the reported \$18 billion spent on government-owned refineries with little to show for it.

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The company questioned why the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries remain idle despite years of rehabilitation and turnaround maintenance.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote highlighted that successive governments expended \$18 billion without success and urged NUPENG to assist Nigerians in uncovering the mystery behind the colossal expenditure.

Dangote also refuted claims that its petroleum tanker drivers were prevented from unionising, pointing to the union’s historical opposition to the 2007 privatisation of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries, which included Dangote as part of the consortium.

“The same NUPENG who opposed the 2007 privatisation must now help Nigerians ask what happened to all four FGN-owned refineries,” the company stated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour convened another meeting on Friday at the Department of State Services in Abuja to address the ongoing crisis.

The Dangote Group was represented by Alhaji Sayyu Dantata of MRS Oil, while NUPENG leaders, including National Executive President Williams Akporeha, attended to follow up on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier in the week.

The meeting came after NUPENG’s Monday shutdown of fuel depots, triggered by the refinery’s refusal to allow newly recruited drivers for its 4,000 CNG-powered trucks to join the union.

Although a temporary agreement was reached on Tuesday, the union alleged that Dangote acted in violation by instructing drivers to remove NUPENG stickers in favour of the newly formed Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association.

NUPENG condemned the refinery’s actions as an attempt to sow division among drivers and undermine workers’ rights, dismissing the Dangote Group’s press release as “capitalist falsehood” aimed at misleading Nigerians.

The union also warned against any threat to its leaders during the struggle for unionisation.

In response, Dangote’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, reiterated that the company fully supports constitutionally protected labour rights, stressing that employees are free to join any recognised trade union.

The firm also dismissed allegations of stifling competition through its CNG truck initiative.

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The Dangote Refinery NUPENG Dispute highlights rising tensions in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, with both parties staking strong positions over unionisation, workers’ welfare, and the accountability of government refinery spending.