JUST IN: NUPENG Has Been Collecting About N50,000 Or N48,000 On Each Truck–Dangote.
JUST IN: NUPENG Has Been Collecting About N50,000 Or N48,000 On Each Truck–Dangote.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper on September 22, 2025, prominent industrialist and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has raised serious concerns over what he describes as excessive and unofficial levies being imposed by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on fuel trucks operating at the Dangote Refinery.
The billionaire businessman warned that the continued imposition of these charges could significantly inflate pump prices and place an additional burden on already struggling Nigerian consumers.
Speaking during a media briefing on the challenges surrounding the deployment of his company’s newly acquired fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks, Dangote alleged that NUPENG had been demanding as much as ₦50,000 per truck for every fuel load processed at his facility.
According to him, by the time all ancillary fees and levies are included, the total cost per truck can reach between ₦80,000 and ₦84,000.
“These are real costs, and they are not borne by the refinery,” Dangote stated. “They are passed on directly to the consumers. So, at the end of the day, it’s the ordinary Nigerians who pay the price.”
Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, emphasized that the primary mission of his refinery is to reduce Nigeria’s dependency on fuel imports and make refined petroleum products more affordable for citizens.
However, he expressed deep frustration that practices such as those allegedly carried out by NUPENG are undermining that objective.
He noted that while the refinery had been built to enhance efficiency and self-sufficiency in Nigeria’s energy sector, excessive union charges at the loading stage could undermine its competitive edge, discourage investors, and push fuel prices beyond reach for many Nigerians
The idea was to help the country by cutting out inefficiencies in fuel importation and distribution. But what we’re seeing now is that these union levies are creating a new layer of costs,” he said. “Fuel prices shouldn’t be set by these types of activities but should reflect market dynamics and production realities
Despite the gravity of the claims, NUPENG has not issued a formal response. The union has neither denied nor confirmed the existence of such levies, a silence that has prompted further scrutiny from industry analysts and stakeholders.
Many are now questioning how a labor union has assumed such a role within a privately-operated refinery and whether there is regulatory oversight of these practices.
Some experts argue that if Dangote’s allegations are substantiated, the union’s actions could violate industry standards and contribute to fuel inflation in a country where petrol remains the backbone of transportation, logistics, and power generation.
A senior oil and gas analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “If unions are allowed to impose fees at the point of product loading, we’re introducing a distortion in the market. It becomes more difficult to keep prices stable, and the burden always falls on the final consumer.”
Dangote also addressed what he called false accusations by NUPENG, which reportedly alleged that the Dangote Group was preventing truck drivers from joining the union.
He dismissed those claims, insisting that his company is focused solely on improving efficiency and affordability within the sector, not on interfering in union matters.
“Our goal is to modernize fuel distribution,” he explained. “We have invested in 4,000 CNG-powered trucks to cut down on diesel use, lower transportation costs, and offer more sustainable solutions. These innovations should be encouraged, not weighed down by avoidable financial burdens.”
Industry observers have called for urgent intervention by regulatory bodies to investigate the matter and ensure transparency in the fuel distribution process.
They noted that the Dangote Refinery, which is the largest single-train refinery in Africa, represents a critical infrastructure project for Nigeria’s energy independence and economic stability.
Any policies or practices that reduce its operational efficiency could have widespread implications across the economy.
The current impasse adds to the broader national debate around the rising cost of fuel in Nigeria, which has persisted even after the removal of subsidies.
With inflation at record highs and cost-of-living pressures mounting, stakeholders are watching the situation closely to determine how the refinery’s operations will evolve and what impact these alleged union practices might have on the broader energy market.
Dangote concluded his remarks with a stark warning: “If we continue like this, with unchecked charges and inefficiencies, we’re defeating the very purpose of this refinery. And in the end, it’s the Nigerian people who will suffer most.”
