The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike, paralysing fuel distribution across the country and forcing depots to suspend operations.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, 8 September 2025, has left petrol loading depots across Nigeria closed. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) members and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) union are also participating, enforcing strict compliance at depots and filling stations.
In Lagos, loading activities at Dangote Refinery, Rainoil, and Integrated depots were halted after PTD members blocked tanker drivers from entering the facilities. Similar actions were reported in Warri, where drivers were prevented from accessing storage terminals, leaving tankers stranded at entry points.
The strike extended to Calabar, disrupting operations at Matrix and First Fortune depots. Eyewitnesses confirmed that no trucks were allowed in or out of the facilities throughout Monday, creating uncertainty for fuel marketers. In Port Harcourt, PTD members sealed Soroman and Evergreen depots, while at Master’s Energy and TSL depots, drivers occupied the gates to ensure that no product was lifted.
In Delta State, NUPENG and IPMAN jointly ordered the closure of filling stations, warning that operators who defied the directive would face penalties. According to reports, filling stations caught selling petrol during the strike risked a fine of ₦1 million.
The action follows NUPENG’s longstanding dispute with Dangote Refinery over labour issues. The union had earlier accused the refinery of pursuing anti-union practices, citing concerns over its deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks.
In June 2025, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, announced the planned importation of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, later increased to 10,000, to strengthen nationwide fuel distribution. While initially welcomed by some workers, the move drew resistance from stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), who questioned the broader implications for existing operators.
NUPENG reaffirmed its stance in a statement jointly signed by its National President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale. The union stressed that the strike was necessary to defend workers’ rights and resist what it described as practices undermining collective bargaining and job security.
As depots remain shut and truck movements stalled, growing concerns are emerging over looming fuel shortages nationwide. The situation has left stakeholders, from marketers to consumers, bracing for possible economic disruptions if the deadlock persists.