BREAKING: NUPENG Reinforces Barricade at Dangote Refinery, Blocks Non-Union Trucks

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has reinforced its blockade at the Dangote Refinery, stopping trucks without official union stickers from loading fuel at the facility.

The action, which began on Thursday, followed what the union described as a flagrant breach of an earlier resolution between NUPENG and the Dangote Group over the recognition of workers’ union rights.

According to insiders, NUPENG moved to strengthen the barricade after learning that Dangote management allegedly planned to use towing vehicles to clear the trucks used by the union to block access.

“Our men heard that the management of Dangote is planning to bring towing vehicles to remove the trucks NUPENG is using to block MRS trucks that are without union stickers. So NUPENG reinforced with more trucks to block the entire gate into the refinery,” a source told SaharaReporters.

Videos obtained show that Dangote Group had brought in MRS Oil Nigeria Plc trucks without union stickers to load petrol, but NUPENG officials quickly shut down the attempt, blocking the trucks from gaining entry.

Earlier, NUPENG accused Dangote management—specifically Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, cousin to Aliko Dangote—of violating a government-brokered agreement signed at the DSS office in Abuja. The deal, witnessed by three federal ministers and a deputy director-general of the DSS, required recognition of workers’ rights.

The union said Dantata disregarded the agreement by ordering truck drivers, who are NUPENG-PTD members, to remove union stickers from their vehicles and attempt to force their way into the refinery.

NUPENG leaders, President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, condemned the move as “arrogant” and “a blatant lack of respect for the laws of this country.”

They further alleged that Dantata escalated tensions by hovering over the facility in a helicopter and later calling in the Nigerian Navy.

“Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over,” the union warned.

NUPENG has now placed all its members on red alert for a full resumption of the suspended nationwide strike, urging solidarity from the NLC, TUC, civil society groups, and international labour bodies.

While reassuring Nigerians of its patriotism, the union insisted it remains committed to defending workers’ rights and urged the federal government to prevent the use of state security forces in the dispute.