Nigerians yet again have been left to lament the agony and face the hardship that comes with the cost of petrol price surging amid the Dangote-PENGASSAN dispute.
The fuel price increase has once more, heightened concerns for motorists and businesses already grappling with inflation, as the standoff between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) shows no sign of easing.
Checks across some filling stations on Monday revealed that several filling stations adjusted their pump prices upward.
At Ranoil and Empire outlets in Gwarimpa and along the Kubwa Expressway, motorists bought petrol for between N910 and N920 per litre, compared to last week’s N890–N910 range.
The sharp increase comes amid an ongoing strike by PENGASSAN, which insists it will not back down until workers allegedly dismissed for union-related activities are reinstated.
“Our members cannot be intimidated for exercising their rights,” one senior PENGASSAN official told reporters. “Until Dangote Refinery reverses those unlawful terminations, the strike continues.”
The industrial action, which kicked off on Monday, has already begun to disrupt supply chains, leaving commuters stranded and businesses worried about further price shocks.
Many fuel retailers say the uncertainty has made it difficult to maintain stable pricing.
In response to the escalating crisis, the federal government convened a late-night meeting with both Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN representatives.
However, sources confirmed the talks ended without agreement, raising fears of prolonged shortages.
A government official familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted the situation was “more complex than anticipated.”
The source added that while dialogue would continue, “no breakthrough should be expected immediately.”
For motorists in Zaria, Kaduna, the immediate concern remains survival.
“Every time I go to the station, the price has changed,” said Ibrahim Musa, a keke driver in Zaria. “At this rate, we’ll have to double fares just to stay afloat.”
AFRIPOST reports that if the deadlock persists, the ripple effects could push transportation and food prices higher nationwide, compounding the economic strain on households.