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

Published

8 months ago

September 7, 2025

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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

Related Topics:Dangote Featured IPMAN nupeng PETROAN strike

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Kimberly Daniels Accuses Nigeria’s Matawalle of Alleged Bribery Attempt

Published

1 hour ago

April 22, 2026

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Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle

Kimberly Daniels Accuses Nigeria’s Matawalle of Alleged Bribery Attempt

A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, has accused Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of allegedly attempting to influence a US official with money in a bid to counter findings contained in a controversial international security report.

Daniels, a Democrat representing Florida’s District 14 and chairperson of the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), made the allegation in a video posted on her verified Facebook page, which has since circulated widely across social media platforms.

Allegation linked to UN-WCD report on Nigeria security

Daniels said the alleged inducement was connected to a report issued by the UN-WCD, which raised concerns about insecurity in Nigeria and alleged attacks on Christian communities in parts of the country.

She claimed the report, which called for greater scrutiny of Nigeria’s security leadership, triggered attempts to influence public perception and counter its findings in the United States.

The report reportedly referenced violent incidents in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna, and questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security response in addressing ongoing attacks.

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Claims of financial inducement to US official

In the viral video, Daniels alleged that a US elected official was approached with a financial offer to publicly oppose the report and defend Nigeria’s defence establishment.

“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said.

She did not provide documentary proof in her public statement but insisted that she had seen communications and materials she described as evidence of a coordinated effort, including drafted statements and promotional content.

Alleged pressure campaign after report release

Daniels further alleged that following the release of the UN-WCD report, she faced pressure from individuals she linked to Nigerian authorities. She claimed these actions were aimed at discrediting her findings and influencing US political discourse.

She also alleged that an unnamed American legislator was encouraged to publicly challenge her position and support Nigeria’s defence leadership, describing the alleged move as an attempt to divide US lawmakers.

Calls for review of Nigeria’s defence leadership

The US lawmaker had previously urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the removal of Matawalle, citing concerns raised in the UN-WCD report regarding insecurity in several Nigerian states.

She said her position was based on findings related to attacks in parts of northern and central Nigeria and called for stronger accountability within Nigeria’s security structure.

Nigerian government response awaited

As of the time of filing this report, Bello Matawalle has not publicly responded to the allegations. There has also been no independent verification of the claims made by Daniels, and the Nigerian government has not issued an official statement on the matter.

Broader security and diplomatic implications

The allegations come amid ongoing international debate over Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly reports of violence in rural communities and concerns about insurgency and armed attacks.

While Nigerian authorities maintain that security forces are actively addressing threats across the country, the latest claims have added a diplomatic dimension to the broader conversation on Nigeria security situation and international perceptions.

Analysts say such allegations, if unproven, risk heightening diplomatic sensitivity between Nigeria and international stakeholders, especially regarding narratives on human rights and internal security.

For now, the controversy remains unresolved, pending responses from Nigerian officials and further clarification from involved parties.

Kimberly Daniels Accuses Nigeria’s Matawalle of Alleged Bribery Attempt

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Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation UDO KA (Operation Eastern Sanity) have arrested five suspected members of a criminal network linked to the killing of a police officer in Delta State, following a coordinated intelligence-led raid in Ebonyi State.

The operation was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at a suspected hideout in Nwofe, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, where soldiers reportedly acted on credible intelligence tracking the movement of fleeing suspects involved in violent crimes against security operatives.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, who said the raid was part of ongoing military counter-terrorism and internal security operations aimed at dismantling armed criminal networks across the region.

According to the Army, the suspects are linked to a deadly attack on police officers on February 26, 2026, at Okuku-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, where one officer was killed, another injured, and two AK-47 rifles were allegedly stolen during the incident.

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Military authorities said intelligence reports revealed that the group responsible for the attack fled Delta State following intensified security pressure and later established a new operational base in Ebonyi State to continue their activities.

The Army further alleged that the arrested suspects include a key commander of the group, described as a notorious IPOB/ESN-linked kingpin known as “Calamity,” alongside four other members of the network.

During the raid, troops reportedly surrounded and secured the hideout, arresting all five suspects without resistance. At the time of arrest, the suspected leader was found with a black handbag containing five mobile phones and several keys, while a motorcycle believed to have been used by the group was also recovered.

Security sources said the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to uncover further details about their operations, collaborators, and possible weapons caches linked to the group.

The Nigerian Army stated that the operation reflects its continued efforts under Operation Eastern Sanity to neutralize violent criminal groups, restore security, and prevent further attacks on law enforcement personnel and civilians.

Military authorities added that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider network allegedly connected to the group and recover weapons believed to have been hidden in different locations.

The Army also called on residents to support ongoing security operations by providing credible and timely intelligence that can assist in identifying criminal hideouts and preventing future attacks.

According to security officials, sustained collaboration between the public and security agencies remains critical to improving security in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions, where sporadic attacks on security operatives have persisted.

Troops Arrest Five Suspects in Ebonyi Over Killing of Police Officer

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Nigeria Police Begins Probe of 167 Senior Officers Over Misconduct

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Trends Admin

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu

Nigeria Police Begins Probe of 167 Senior Officers Over Misconduct

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced the sitting of its internal disciplinary panel to review pending cases involving 167 senior officers over alleged professional misconduct and related offences, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability within the institution.

The exercise, currently underway at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, who described it as part of ongoing reforms to enforce discipline and uphold professional standards across the Force.

According to him, the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC)—a key internal mechanism of the police—is responsible for reviewing cases involving officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above. The committee is mandated to ensure a thorough, transparent, and fair hearing process, in line with existing laws and regulations, before forwarding its recommendations to the Police Service Commission for final decisions.

Placid noted that the large number of officers facing review underscores the Force’s renewed determination to address issues of misconduct, ethical violations, abuse of office, and breaches of professional codes that have, in recent years, drawn public criticism.

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He added that the process is not only punitive but also corrective, designed to reinforce discipline and restore confidence in policing institutions. Observers say cases typically handled by the committee may include allegations ranging from dereliction of duty and improper conduct to corruption-related infractions and violations of operational procedures.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the leadership’s commitment to discipline, integrity, and professionalism, stressing that no officer found guilty would be shielded from due process.

He emphasized that the disciplinary exercise forms part of broader institutional reforms targeted at:

Strengthening internal control systems
Promoting ethical behaviour among senior officers
Enhancing operational accountability
Rebuilding public trust in the police

Security analysts describe the review of 167 senior officers simultaneously as one of the most significant internal disciplinary actions in recent times, signaling a more aggressive approach by the police leadership toward internal cleansing and reform.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, affected officers may face a range of sanctions depending on the severity of findings. These could include warnings, suspension, demotion, compulsory retirement, or dismissal, subject to approval by the Police Service Commission.

The development comes amid sustained calls from civil society groups and the public for improved professionalism, transparency, and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in light of past concerns over misconduct and abuse of authority.

Authorities say the outcome of the committee’s deliberations will play a crucial role in shaping public perception of ongoing police reforms and the credibility of efforts to reposition the Force as a more accountable and service-driven institution.