- Dangote refinery insists fuel supplies remain stable despite the ongoing tanker drivers’ strike.
- Union leaders accuse Dangote of undermining workers’ rights, claims strongly denied by the company.
Dangote refinery’s fuel shortage fears dominated headlines after tanker drivers launched a nationwide strike. Yet, the refinery assured Nigerians there would be no disruption in petrol supply. The refinery spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, confirmed that operations continued smoothly while negotiations progressed between the union, government, and the company.
The strike began on Monday and has gained support from other local and international unions. It followed Dangote’s decision to employ its drivers to deliver petrol directly to retailers. Although the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) accused Dangote of restricting union membership, the company denied these allegations as “cheap blackmail.”
Since the opening of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery last year, Nigeria has reduced dependence on petrol imports. Previously, the country imported nearly all of its fuel despite being a major oil producer. Critics attributed this to decades of mismanagement and neglect of state-owned refineries.
The Dangote refinery has transformed the energy market. It has reduced petrol prices for consumers while challenging long-standing players in an industry notorious for corruption. However, its rapid rise has triggered monopoly concerns, given its position under Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Last month, the refinery announced plans to deploy thousands of trucks powered by compressed natural gas. The goal was to distribute petrol nationwide. Nevertheless, logistical setbacks delayed the initiative, unsettling a market long dominated by more than 20,000 diesel-powered tankers.
NUPENG president, Williams Akporeha, criticised Dangote, arguing that workers’ rights were under threat. Global organisations such as IndustriALL in Switzerland and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers network in Washington have also expressed solidarity.
Despite mounting tensions, Dangote insists that fuel supplies remain unaffected. The company maintains that no worker has been prevented from joining a union. Nigerians remain assured of uninterrupted petrol availability during the industrial dispute.