 has once again stepped into the ongoing faceoff between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria){kind=link}
The Department of State Services (DSS) has once again stepped into the ongoing faceoff between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), seeking to prevent the fragile truce from collapsing.
Tensions resurfaced days after both parties signed a peace pact on September 9, assuring workers of their right to freely join unions.
Despite the agreement, accusations and counterclaims have reignited concerns of another showdown capable of disrupting the nation’s fuel supply chain.
At a high-level meeting convened by the DSS in Abuja, the refinery management and NUPENG were reminded to respect the earlier deal.
Stakeholders present included the Minister of State for Labour, representatives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
An official at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the DSS warned both sides to avoid further violations.
“The resolution was clear, every party must maintain the status quo and honour the commitments made on September 9,” the source explained.
Central to the settlement was the directive that Dangote Refinery restore NUPENG stickers on its trucks, which were reportedly removed in defiance of the pact.
However, NUPENG leaders insist the company is reneging on its promises. In a fresh statement, union executives accused the refinery of attempting to suppress unionisation among its workers.
“This is not just about tanker drivers; even operational staff have been blocked from exercising their rights,” the union declared.
The refinery, on its part, has denied the allegations, maintaining that it has complied with the terms of the agreement.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the federal government to step in decisively, warning that the dispute could trigger another era of fuel scarcity.
NANS Senate President, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, stressed that while unions play a vital role in defending rights, membership should remain a matter of choice.
“Nobody should be compelled into a union. Freedom of association also means the freedom not to associate,” he said.
The student body further raised concerns over intelligence reports suggesting that powerful oil cartels may exploit the standoff.
According to NANS, there are fears of planned attacks on Dangote Refinery’s new fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) distribution trucks.
“We cannot allow saboteurs to jeopardise critical national assets. Any attack on the refinery or its facilities is an attack on Nigeria’s future,” the group warned.
NANS also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for stabilising fuel supply so far and called for stronger protection of the refinery, describing it as a “beacon of employment and economic growth.”
“The Dangote Refinery has eased pressure on Nigeria’s petroleum sector. It must be safeguarded from actions that could drag the economy backwards,” NANS added.
With DSS mediating and stakeholders watching closely, the coming days will determine whether dialogue can hold or if Nigeria risks fresh disruptions in its fuel distribution chain.