By Peter Dansu Dangote Refinery has assured Nigerians that the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (N...
By Peter Dansu
Dangote Refinery has assured Nigerians that the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) will not result in fuel scarcity across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, the refinery’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, dismissed fears of a looming shortage, stressing that operations remain unaffected despite the strike action by tanker drivers.
“There is no fuel shortage; everything is going on as normal,” Chiejina told reporters, noting that discussions between the company, the government, and union leaders are still ongoing.
The strike, which kicked off on Monday, has gained backing from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and international labour groups. NUPENG alleges that Dangote is hiring new tanker drivers on the condition that they do not join the union—an accusation the company has strongly denied, describing it as “cheap blackmail.”
“What Dangote has shown over time is that he’s not prepared to have workers that will have a say in his employment,” NUPENG president, Williams Akporeha, claimed during a media interview.
Dangote, however, insists it has never barred workers from joining unions and maintains its focus is on ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply.
The $20 billion refinery, Africa’s largest, began operations last year with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. Since then, it has reduced petrol costs locally and disrupted long-standing structures in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, though critics warn of monopoly risks given its dominance.
No comments