Strike by union workers in Nigeria has come to a halt after a meeting with the group, the Nigerian government, and the Dangote Oil Refinery.
- The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ceased their two-day strike after reaching an agreement with the government and Dangote Oil Refinery.
- The dispute originated over the right to unionize workers at the Dangote Refinery, which the management has now agreed to honor.
- An agreement was signed to initiate the unionization process immediately, ensuring workers face no retaliation during its implementation.
- The resolution was brokered and co-signed by representatives from the union, Dangote, government officials, and labor congress groups.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has pumped the brakes on its two-day strike following a second meeting on Tuesday, after the one on Monday failed.
Williams Akporeha, the National President of NUPENG, told The Punch that the union will resume normal operations as Dangote agreed to unionize its drivers.
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“The management agreed with this fact and responded that they are not averse to the unionisation of their employees by labour unions in tandem with the provisions of the extant labour laws.
After exhaustive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached by both parties: That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals who are willing to unionise,” the agreement read.
“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th-22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union. Arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical will be victimised,” it added.
Sayyu Dantata of Dangote, Akporeha, and his secretary, Afolabi Olawale, of NUPENG, OK Ukoha, a representative of the NMDPRA, Amos Falonipe, the director of the labor ministry, and members of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
A week following the discussion, the parties are expected to get back to the Minister of Labor.
Last week, union members said that Dangote’s new drivers were hired on the condition that they would not join the union, prompting a country-wide strike by union workers.
“What Dangote has shown over time is that he’s not prepared to have workers that will have a say in his employment,” union president Williams Akporeha told Nigerian broadcaster Arise News on Tuesday.
Dangote’s distribution plan
In June 2025, the Dangote Refinery announced intentions to launch an in-house distribution network with the deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered cars.
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The initiative aims to lower annual gasoline distribution costs by ₦1.7 trillion and increase petroleum supply chain efficiency.
It is also an environmentally friendly alternative to what is currently being used.
Compared to traditional diesel trucks, CNG vehicles are expected to save around 40% on distribution expenses while also lowering carbon emissions, aligning the firm with global energy transition trends.
