The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a strike over the seeming cold war between them and the management of the Dangote refinery.

NUPENG warned that its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch will begin seeking other sources of livelihood from September 8, following Aliko Dangote’s refusal to allow newly hired compressed natural gas (CNG) tanker drivers to join existing labour unions.

In a statement in Abuja on Friday, signed by NUPENG president Williams Akporeha and general secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union accused Dangote and Sayyu Aliu Dantata, founder of MRS Group, of adopting “unconstitutional and anti-union practices.”

The union said that despite repeated efforts to engage with the businessmen, their stance has remained unchanged.

“Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) condemns in absolute terms the unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional anti-union practices of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata,” the statement reads.

“Meanwhile, since Alh Aliko Dangote and his cousin have resolved to replace all Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Nigeria and there is no one or institution that can stop him, the members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG will from Monday, 8th September 2025, start looking for alternative employments/skills and sources of livelihoods.”

Dangote Refinery had earlier announced that it would commence nationwide distribution of fuel on August 15, supported by 4,000 newly acquired CNG-powered tankers.

But according to NUPENG, during a meeting in June, Dantata told union leaders that drivers to be recruited for the trucks would not be allowed to join any existing unions, and instead a new one would be created for them.

The union said its worst fears were confirmed when, on August 29, MRS Group began recruiting drivers under conditions that required them to sign agreements not to belong to any oil and gas union.

“In a brutally cold and crude manner, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata informed NUPENG and NARTO leaders that the truck drivers they will recruit will not be allowed to join any existing union, but a new union will be formed for them,” the association said.

“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union have made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alh Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alh Sayyu Ali Dantata to follow line of global best practices and decency but all to no avail.

“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG Trucks on Friday, 29th August 2025. The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the Oil and Gas Industry.”

NUPENG said the recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing union “is the implementation of the position declared to us by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata on 23rd of June, 2025” during a meeting where Dantata represented Dangote.

NUPENG expressed concern over the business practices of Dantata and Dangote “who are scared of allowing unions to exist in their business outfits”.

“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement, depriving workers of a union and voice amounts to creating filthy wealth,” the association said.

“NUPENG will not stand idly by while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers. NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning.”

The union also criticized the lack of fairness in the recruitment process for the refinery, despite the support it had given during the project’s construction and commissioning.

Calling for government intervention, NUPENG urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other agencies to step in.

The association further called on the federal government and its agencies “to call the two trillionaire businessmen to order”.

“They should be told to obey the laws of Nigeria. If they persist in their anti-union tyrannical attitudes, NUPENG is set and ready to mobilize its forces to fight within the framework of the law,” the statement reads..

The union also appealed to Nigerians for understanding in case of disruptions, while calling on other labour groups to stand with them in solidarity.

KanyiDaily recalls that Aliko Dangote recently revealed that ‘cabal’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector are still working behind the scenes to sabotage the progress of his $20 billion refinery in Lekki, Lagos.