NUPENG vs Dangote: PETROAN, IPMAN beg Tinubu to avert Monday strike - Newstrends
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NUPENG vs Dangote: PETROAN, IPMAN beg Tinubu to avert Monday strike

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

NUPENG vs Dangote: PETROAN, IPMAN beg Tinubu to avert Monday strike

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders to intervene in the dispute between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Dangote Refinery.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), while also calling for urgent intervention in the standoff, accused the Dangote refinery of anti-labor practices.

This comes after NUPENG announced on Friday that it would begin industrial action on Monday, September 8.

The disagreement centers on Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plans to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for direct gasoline delivery to merchants.

Although the program, which was supposed to start on August 15, was delayed due to logistics issues in China, the refinery indicated it would begin once a large number of trucks arrived.

However, in a statement issued jointly by its president, Williams Akporeha, and general secretary, Afolabi Olawale, on Friday, NUPENG accused the Dangote Refinery of anti-labor actions that endanger the welfare of its Petroleum and Tanker Drivers branch members.

The union stated that Aliko Dangote, the refinery’s owner, had requested that new drivers for imported trucks be barred from joining any union.

The ruling was seen as an affront to the freedom of association granted by the 1999 Constitution, as well as a violation of international labor treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

NUPENG stated that it has held many discussions with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to convince Dangote to reconsider.

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However, its requests were reportedly ignored.

Last Friday, MRS, owned by Dangote’s cousin, Sayyu Aliu Dantata, allegedly began recruiting drivers for the CNG vehicles, forcing them to sign agreements not to join any oil and gas union.

The union stated that it could not stand by as employment was being lost.

NUPENG stated its members will stop loading petroleum nationwide on Monday, September 8, if the situation is not handled.

Billy Gillis-Harry, National President of PETROAN, denounced the impending strike as a looming danger and urged that it be avoided.

He said, “PETROAN’s position is that we are calling on the President, the authority chief of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to mediate and ensure that the strike action does not take place as planned.”

Gillis-Harry stated that a single company should not dominate the value chain.

“We are saying that the worries of NUPENG and PTD are correct, because you cannot wake up and just come and take off the value from the union with the kind of capacity that you have.

“You don’t want to give anti-competitive values, even in the welfare of workers. So, PETROAN’s position is that we are calling on the President, the National Security Advisor, the IG, and the DSS to intervene and quickly bring everybody to the roundtable before 12 noon, or before 12, on Monday, so that we can discuss it.

“You know, we shouldn’t listen to people who are on the side supporting or not supporting the decision. It’s a looming danger, and we in PETROAN already understand the dynamics of the difficulties that will come.

“This is what we have been shouting since the month of January or so, when we started talking about issues that will be tantamount to anti-competitive tendencies,” he added.

The IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, said oil marketers were working towards reconciling the parties and would continue the engagement on Monday.

He said, “We are still appealing to the NUPENG members and Dangote to see how they can reconcile their differences.

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“I cannot really say what the implication of the tanker drivers’ strike may be for now. We can only appeal to them to make peace with the other party.

“With work resuming fully on Monday, we will see how we can talk to the tanker drivers. I am sure we will then really hear what is going on.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, NLC President Joe Ajaero said Labour has reviewed NUPENG’s petition and condemned the Dangote Group’s activities as “crude and dangerous.”

The NLC also stated that identical complaints had been filed by other unions representing workers throughout the group’s diverse operations, including cement, sugar, and flour, indicating a larger pattern of labor issues.

“The revelations contained in NUPENG’s statement represent not just an attack on petroleum workers but a full-blown declaration of war against trade unionism and the principle of decent work,” the NLC said.

It accused the petroleum business of paying some of the lowest wages in the oil and gas industry, refusing employees the opportunity to join trade unions of their choice, and encouraging casualization and dangerous working practices.

The NLC further criticized the group’s purported bias for recruiting foreign nationals over qualified Nigerians, citing previous recruitments of welders and fitters from India while skilled Nigerians went unemployed.

According to Congress, such activities amounted to exploitation and monopolistic control, which contradicted the Dangote Refinery project’s promises of industrialization, job creation, and national growth.

The NLC highlighted the national significance of the anti-union practices, warning that if left unchecked, they might create a dangerous precedent, allowing big firms to violate Nigerian labor laws and international treaties on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

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The congress announced a number of steps, including putting Nigerian workers and unions on red alert, forming a united front against the Dangote Group’s labor violations, and backing NUPENG’s proposed industrial action if the refinery did not comply.

It urged the Federal Government and regulatory bodies, notably the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, to step in and guarantee compliance with labor laws.

“The attack on NUPENG is an attack on us all. Nigerian workers are not slaves and cannot be serially abused without consequences,” the NLC statement said.

“If Dangote continues on this reckless anti-union path, we will confront this tyranny head-on until victory is secured for Nigerian workers and the Nigerian people.”

The IPMAN Western Zone Chairman, Oyewole Akanni, confirmed the association’s willingness to cease operations on the specified date.

This decision, he stated, came after a zonal council meeting attended by members, officials, depot chairmen, and secretaries from across the Southwest.

“The strike is in solidarity with NUPENG over job security concerns for petroleum tanker drivers,” he said.

Akanni warned that Dangote Refinery and MRS Energy’s entry into petrol distribution could jeopardize over 4,000 trucks operated by IPMAN members and threaten thousands of jobs.

“More importantly, such a move also negates the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which prohibits a company refining crude oil from directly engaging in product distribution. This is a flagrant disobedience of the law guiding operations in the downstream sector,” he added.

Akanni urged the Federal Government to uphold the Petroleum Industry Act, vowing resistance to any monopoly in the sector.

NUPENG vs Dangote: PETROAN, IPMAN beg Tinubu to avert Monday strike

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Viral Threesome Video: Sisi Alagbo’s Husband Accepts Responsibility, Seeks Forgiveness

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Adesola Akeem and Sisi Alagbo

Viral Threesome Video: Sisi Alagbo’s Husband Accepts Responsibility, Seeks Forgiveness

The husband of popular Nigerian social media personality Eniola Fagbemi, widely known as Sisi Alagbo, Akeem Adesola has publicly apologised following the circulation of a private video involving himself, his wife and another woman that triggered widespread reactions online.

The video surfaced earlier this week and quickly spread across WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, gossip blogs and other social media platforms, generating intense public debate and criticism.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, Adesola Akeem accepted responsibility for the incident and expressed remorse over the embarrassment and disappointment caused by the controversy.

“I write with a deep sense of responsibility and sincere remorse to extend my heartfelt apologies to my family, friends, business associates, religious leaders, fans, loved ones, and the entire Nigerian public over the recent incident involving a leaked scandal,” he wrote.

“I acknowledge the disappointment, embarrassment, and concern this situation has caused, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Akeem said his behaviour fell below the standards expected by people who had supported and trusted him over the years. He also apologised specifically to his family members, supporters, business associates and religious community.

“To my fans and supporters, I deeply regret letting you down,” he added.

According to him, the incident has become a period of personal reflection, noting that he intends to rebuild trust and make better decisions moving forward.

“I am committed to making better decisions, rebuilding trust, and upholding integrity in both my private and public life going forward,” he stated.

Sisi Alagbo had earlier reacted to the controversy through a statement shared on her verified Facebook account on Wednesday. She apologised to followers and supporters, saying the situation had left her emotionally distressed.

“I own my mistakes, and I apologize with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me,” she wrote.

The incident has continued to dominate conversations on Nigerian social media, with reactions ranging from criticism to calls for privacy and restraint in sharing sensitive personal materials online.

Some social media users also raised concerns over the growing trend of leaked private content and cyberbullying, urging the public to avoid further circulation of the video.

Sisi Alagbo became widely known online through her promotion of herbal products and lifestyle content. She gained additional national attention during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after a viral moment involving Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.

The couple has not disclosed whether legal action will be pursued regarding the source of the leaked material.

 

Viral Threesome Video: Sisi Alagbo’s Husband Accepts Responsibility, Seeks Forgiveness

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Lagos faces major power outage after twin failures at Egbin, transmission line 

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Lagos faces major power outage after twin failures at Egbin, transmission line 

 

Lagos is facing a widespread power outage after a critical double disruption knocked out a major chunk of electricity supply to the nation’s commercial hub.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said a sudden shutdown of the Egbin Power Station and a transmission line failure had significantly weakened power delivery to the state, forcing emergency load-shedding measures.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the system operator disclosed that the Egbin plant suffered a major operational disturbance late on April 28, wiping out its entire output and tightening supply constraints across Lagos.

The incident has also sparked unconfirmed reports of a contractor’s death at the facility, though officials have yet to verify the claim or provide details on what may have occurred.

According to NISO, the disruption happened at about 8:21 p.m., when Egbin’s generation abruptly dropped from approximately 641 megawatts to zero.

The outage was traced to critical equipment failure within the plant, specifically the breakdown of its central compressor and a malfunction in the circulating water pump system. The faults forced an immediate shutdown of all generating units to protect the facility from further damage.

 

The situation was further worsened by a transmission constraint limiting power flow into Lagos.

“Power supply to the Lagos region is currently further restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line,” the operator said, noting that the fault has hampered the evacuation of available electricity into the Lagos load centre.

The combined impact of the generation collapse and transmission failure has created a major supply gap, prompting authorities to ration electricity to stabilise the grid and prevent a broader system failure.

NISO said contingency measures have been activated, including redistributing available power among distribution companies and prioritising critical infrastructure.

Efforts are also underway to ramp up generation from other plants to cushion the impact on consumers.

 

The agency apologised for the disruption, acknowledging that Lagos and surrounding areas have been hardest hit, and assured residents that stakeholders are working to restore normal supply as quickly as possible.

 

Located in Ikorodu, Egbin Power Station remains Nigeria’s largest thermal plant on the national grid, with an installed capacity exceeding 1,300MW. Its strategic importance means any outage typically triggers immediate and widespread supply shortages, especially in Lagos, the country’s biggest electricity market.

 

The Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV line is equally vital, serving as a key transmission backbone that channels power into Lagos from other parts of the country.

The latest incident once again underscores the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, where isolated failures in generation or transmission can quickly cascade into large-scale outages, highlighting the urgent need for system upgrades and improved maintenance.

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Cyberbullying: Police Confirm Arresting Rolex Dee Over Taye Currency’s Petition

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Popular Ibadan-based Fuji musician Alhaji Taye Adebisi better known as Taye Currency

Cyberbullying: Police Confirm Arresting Rolex Dee Over Taye Currency’s Petition

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed that efforts are underway to track and arrest controversial social media personality, Rolex Dee, following a cyberbullying and defamation complaint reportedly filed by popular Fuji musician, Taye Currency.

Police authorities disclosed that the matter is currently under investigation after receiving a formal petition accusing Rolex Dee of using social media platforms to allegedly harass, threaten, and defame the musician.

According to police sources, detectives attached to the command’s cybercrime unit have already commenced digital tracking and intelligence gathering aimed at locating the suspect.

The command said the investigation followed several online videos and livestream sessions allegedly containing defamatory remarks and offensive statements directed at Taye Currency.

A senior police official familiar with the case reportedly confirmed that steps were being taken to ensure the suspect is apprehended and questioned in line with provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.

“We have received a complaint, investigation has commenced, and efforts are ongoing to track and arrest the individual involved,” the source said.

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The development comes after tensions escalated on social media between supporters of the Fuji singer and followers of Rolex Dee, with several viral clips generating heated reactions online.

Taye Currency, whose real name is Alhaji Taye Akande Adebisi, is one of the leading Fuji musicians in the Southwest and has maintained a strong fan base for years.

Sources close to the musician alleged that repeated online attacks against him and members of his family forced him to seek police intervention.

The controversy has further sparked debate over the increasing use of social media for personal attacks, cyberbullying, blackmail, and reputational damage among celebrities and influencers in Nigeria.

Legal experts say the Nigerian Cybercrimes Act empowers law enforcement agencies to investigate online harassment, cyberstalking, threats, and publication of false information capable of causing emotional, psychological, or reputational harm.

Meanwhile, supporters of Rolex Dee have reacted online, with some insisting that the issue should be resolved amicably rather than through criminal prosecution.

Human rights advocates have also urged security agencies to ensure that investigations respect constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, while distinguishing criticism from criminal cyber harassment.

The police command has, however, warned social media users against abusing digital platforms to intimidate, threaten, or spread harmful content against others.

Authorities reiterated that individuals found guilty of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or online defamation could face prosecution under Nigerian law.

Cyberbullying: Police Confirm Arresting Rolex Dee Over Taye Currency’s Petition

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