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– Fuel Retailers Join Union Protest Against Dangote’s CNG Truck Deployment
– Strike Forewarning Set Amid Warnings of Job Losses, Monopolistic Risks
– Government Urged to Intervene to Avert Nationwide Fuel Disruption
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced a three-day suspension of fuel lifting and dispensing—set to begin early Tuesday, September 9, 2025—in solidarity with the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The action responds to NUPENG’s strike starting September 8, triggered by objections to Dangote Refinery’s use of imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks to bypass unionized tanker distribution. PETROAN’s President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, described the move as lawful, peaceful, and essential to defending fair competition and pricing stability in the petroleum sector. He warned that Dangote’s model threatens private depot operators, modular refiners, drivers, and marketers—potentially triggering widespread job losses and undermining sector livelihood diversity.
To mitigate disruption, PETROAN called on President Tinubu, the Petroleum Ministry, NMDPRA, NNPC Ltd., and security agencies to intervene swiftly. Station owners were instructed not to penalize staff participating in the strike, and a 120-member compliance team will patrol filling stations to safeguard outlets during the action. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also weighed in, urging federal intervention to uphold labor rights and curb potential monopoly, warning that “Nigerian workers are not slaves.” Meanwhile, the Labour Minister has called for a conciliation meeting to avert the looming fuel scarcity that even a one-day shutdown could spark.
