NUPENG strike suspended after Dangote refinery agreed to unionise its drivers following a DSS-brokered meeting with the petroleum workers’ union

NUPENG strike suspended after the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers reached an agreement with the Dangote Group to unionise its refinery drivers.

Also read: Minister Dingyadi expedites meeting to resolve NUPENG-Dangote dispute

The resolution came during a meeting on Tuesday, mediated by the Department of State Services (DSS).

NUPENG National President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed the development, saying:

“We have suspended the strike. The Dangote refinery has agreed to unionise its drivers. We signed an agreement.”

The industrial action had begun on Monday after petroleum tanker drivers, under NUPENG, halted fuel loading nationwide in protest against Dangote Refinery’s alleged plan to prevent its 4,000 truck drivers from joining the union.

The strike paralysed activities across petroleum depots in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country.

Some filling stations were forced to shut down, while refineries such as Aradel in Obele and Kwale Hydrocarbon in Delta State were closed.

Despite federal government appeals over the weekend to avert the action, NUPENG insisted on proceeding until its demands were met.

Also read: NUPENG threatens Dangote Refinery over monopoly fears

With Tuesday’s agreement, drivers parked at depots are expected to resume lifting fuel, bringing relief to the nation after two days of tension over possible fuel scarcity.