The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has asked the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to expose those responsible for the $18 billion allegedly wasted on government-owned refineries that remain idle.
In a statement on Friday, the company questioned why the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries are still comatose despite repeated spending on turnaround maintenance.
“We must begin to ask what has happened to all four FGN-owned refineries—Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. To date, about $18bn has been wasted to rehabilitate the refineries without any success. Who are the people who spent all these humongous amounts without any result? Can NUPENG assist Nigerians to unravel this?” Dangote queried.
The company also reminded NUPENG of its opposition to the 2007 privatisation of the refineries, when a Dangote-led consortium bought stakes before the deal was reversed.
Reacting to NUPENG’s claim that the refinery wants to monopolise fuel distribution with its direct delivery scheme, Dangote said its operations comply with Nigeria’s deregulated market rules.
“Assertions of monopolistic intent are both legally and factually incorrect,” it stated.
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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour held a fresh meeting on Friday to calm the dispute between both parties. The session took place at the Department of State Services office in Abuja, with Alhaji Sayyu Dantata representing Dangote and Williams Akporeha leading the NUPENG team.
After the meeting, Akporeha told reporters: “The meeting has ended. The status of the communique must be maintained by all parties.”
The dispute began after NUPENG accused Dangote of preventing 4,000 newly recruited drivers for its compressed natural gas-powered trucks from joining the union. The union shut down depots on Monday but suspended the action after signing a memorandum of understanding.
However, NUPENG later alleged that Dangote violated the agreement by forcing drivers to replace NUPENG stickers with those of a new association controlled by the refinery. The union then blocked the refinery’s entrance, accusing Dangote of dividing workers and resisting union rights.
In a statement signed by Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG described Dangote’s free fuel delivery scheme as a “Greek gift” meant to crush competition.
“This epitome of unconscionable capitalist falsehood is aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians and crushing NUPENG,” the union said.
But Dangote dismissed the claims. Its spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, said the refinery supports labour rights.
“Employees are free to affiliate with any recognised trade union,” he stated.
The standoff continues as both sides trade accusations over unionisation, competition, and the future of Nigeria’s fuel distribution.