The management of Dangote Refinery has assured Nigerians that the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will not disrupt the supply of fuel across the country.
Spokesman of the refinery, Anthony Chiejina, said on Tuesday that operations were continuing normally despite the industrial action, insisting there was no cause for panic.
“There is no fuel shortage, everything is going on,” he said, while noting that discussions with the Federal Government and labour unions were still ongoing.
NUPENG on Monday commenced a nationwide strike in protest against what it described as anti-union practices by Dangote Industries Limited, particularly in the deployment of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks under conditions that allegedly discourage union membership.
The industrial action has already gained the backing of other key labour and oil industry groups, including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
A conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Government to resolve the dispute ended in deadlock on Monday after parties failed to agree on terms for unionisation. NUPENG leaders walked out of the session, accusing Dangote of inserting “offensive” clauses into the proposed memorandum of understanding.
The union has vowed to sustain the strike until its demands are met, raising fears of possible fuel scarcity if the standoff lingers.
Despite the assurance from Dangote, stakeholders warn that prolonged industrial action could put pressure on supply chains, especially if solidarity actions by other unions expand.
