Dangote Refinery Feud Escalates: APC Stalwart Slams NUPENG for ‘Sabotage and Conspiracy Against Nigerians’
Fuel prices are pinching wallets across Nigeria. Now, a heated clash between the Dangote Refinery and labor unions threatens to spark shortages and higher costs.
The Spark: Union Demands and Refinery Pushback
Tensions boiled over this week between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. NUPENG accused the refinery of breaching a September 9, 2025, agreement. That deal promised tanker drivers freedom to unionize. The union claims Dangote reneged, denying workers union rights and dues collection.
Dangote fired back hard. The company denied the allegations. It stressed it provides office space for unions and allows dues. In a statement, Dangote called NUPENG’s moves “economic sabotage, coercion, or blackmail under the guise of labor activism.” The refinery operates in a deregulated market, overseen by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
This isn’t new. Earlier threats stemmed from Dangote’s plan for 4,000 CNG-powered trucks to cut emissions and costs. NUPENG opposed it, fearing job losses for diesel drivers. A fragile truce collapsed, raising strike fears.
Osita Okechukwu’s Fiery Accusation
Enter Osita Okechukwu, a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). On September 14, 2025, he unleashed a scathing critique. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Okechukwu charged oil “cabals”—powerful importers—and unions like NUPENG with plotting against the refinery.
“For me, what they are doing is mere sabotage and conspiracy against Nigerians,” he declared. Okechukwu questioned why NUPENG, which he says helped “mangle” state refineries and blocked their privatization, now targets Dangote.
He pointed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). It spent over $10 billion on failed refinery repairs yet denied Nigerians a 20% stake in Dangote’s project. “Could there have been need for the Dangote 7th global largest refinery if our four refineries were working?” he asked.
Okechukwu urged cabals to let Dangote ease hardships. He called for NNPCL to revive state plants for real competition, not “simulated crisis.”
Background: Dangote’s $20 Billion Bet on Energy Independence
Aliko Dangote’s refinery is Africa’s biggest. Opened in 2024, it aims to end Nigeria’s fuel import reliance, which drains $10 billion yearly. At full capacity, it processes 650,000 barrels daily, creating jobs and stabilizing prices.
But challenges mount. State refineries, like Port Harcourt and Warri, guzzled $18 billion in fixes yet idle. Dangote dared NUPENG to expose who squandered those funds during 2007 privatizations, which the union opposed.
Civil society groups echo this. The Coalition for Economic Liberation and Social Justice (CELSJ) accused NUPENG of a “$5 million bribe” from importers to derail Dangote. They called it “sabotage on a grand scale,” urging vigilance to protect national survival.
The Department of State Services (DSS) mediated on September 12, summoning both sides. No resolution yet.
Expert Views and Public Outrage
Experts see vested interests at play. CELSJ’s Comrade Godfrey Boma warned of “oil principalities” forcing disputes to sustain imports. “Every kobo spent importing fuel is theft of jobs and growth,” he said.
Public fury boils on social media. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged the government to shield Dangote from “sabotage,” warning of fuel crises. X users rallied: “NUPENG punished Nigerians for decades with strikes—now they sabotage relief?” one posted.
Others decried manipulation: “NUPENG workers might not know they’re used by unseen hands,” tweeted Ebere Anosike. Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs labeled strike threats “economic sabotage and terrorism against the people.”
NUPENG defends its stance. President Williams Akporeha accused Dangote’s trucking arm of defying the union deal. But support tilts toward Dangote, with calls to investigate “economic treason.”
How This Hits U.S. Readers: Energy Ties and Global Ripples
Americans feel the echo. Nigeria supplies 10% of U.S. crude oil imports. Disruptions here spike global prices, hitting U.S. pumps and inflation.
Economically, Dangote’s success could stabilize West African oil flows, benefiting U.S. firms like ExxonMobil with Nigerian stakes. But sabotage risks shortages, echoing 2022’s global crunch.
Lifestyle-wise, higher fuel abroad means costlier goods for U.S. consumers—from groceries to flights. Politically, it underscores U.S. interests in African energy security amid Russia-Ukraine strains.
Technologically, Dangote’s CNG push aligns with U.S. green shifts, potentially inspiring cleaner logistics here.
Conclusion: Time to End the Standoff
Osita Okechukwu’s blast captures the stakes: NUPENG and allies face accusations of sabotage harming everyday Nigerians. With Dangote poised to slash imports and create jobs, the feud risks undoing progress.
Government intervention, like DSS mediation, offers hope. Looking ahead, resolving this could unlock cheaper fuel by 2026. But without unity, blackouts and queues loom. Stakeholders must prioritize nation over narrow gains—Nigerians deserve relief, not rivalry.
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