NUPENG Rejects Dangote’s Free Fuel Delivery Offer, Calls It Deceitful

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has dismissed the Dangote Refinery’s offer of free nationwide delivery of petroleum products as deceptive, alleging it is a strategy to weaken the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the union.

In a statement signed by NUPENG President, Comrade William Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union described the move as a “Greek gift” designed to render other tanker drivers’ employers redundant, leaving only those tied to the Dangote Transport Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) in operation.

The union accused Dangote of attempting to create division within NUPENG through misinformation and resistance to unionization. It pointed to the September 9, 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as evidence of the company’s initial refusal to recognize workers’ rights to freedom of association.

NUPENG further alleged that since 2023, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sponsored actions aimed at undermining the PTD branch and continues to deny both tanker drivers and other categories of refinery workers the right to unionize.

“It is on record that Dangote Group does not allow unionization of workers in its cement and sugar plants across Nigeria,” the union said, warning Nigerians against supporting employment structures that deny workers’ rights.

The statement also cautioned that no harm should come to any of its leaders actively advocating for the rights of tanker drivers and refinery workers.