Dangote Refinery Union Agreement ends strike as NUPENG and PETROAN resume operations, restoring fuel supply across Nigeria after government intervention

Dangote Refinery Union Agreement brought a swift resolution to Nigeria’s two-day fuel supply disruption, as tanker drivers resumed loading operations on Wednesday after successful negotiations between the refinery and labour unions.

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The strike, led by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), had halted depot operations nationwide, causing widespread concerns over a looming fuel crisis.

NUPENG protested the alleged refusal by Dangote Petroleum Refinery to allow union membership among drivers employed for its 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks.

By Tuesday evening, however, the Department of State Services (DSS) facilitated a crucial meeting where both parties reached a significant agreement.

According to NUPENG President Williams Akporeha, all depots and filling stations that were shut down have now reopened. “Yes!” he confirmed when asked if full operations had resumed.

The Dangote Refinery Union Agreement stipulates that the company will allow unionisation for workers at both the refinery and its petrochemical arm.

The process will begin immediately and be completed within two weeks (September 9–22, 2025). The agreement also guarantees that no employee will face victimisation as a result of the strike.

The resolution was seen as a major breakthrough after earlier negotiations led by the Ministry of Labour and Employment had failed to produce a result.

Simultaneously, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) also called off its own strike, which had halted nationwide fuel dispensing.

PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry confirmed that operations would resume immediately.

“Normalcy has returned to the petroleum sector,” Gillis-Harry said, commending members for their full compliance and discipline during the strike.

He praised government stakeholders, including the Minister of Labour, Minister of State for Petroleum, and security agencies, for their swift intervention.

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The Dangote Refinery Union Agreement not only averted a deeper fuel crisis but also marked a positive step for labour relations and industrial rights in Nigeria’s vital energy sector.