In a major relief for Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its ongoing nationwide strike.
The development came following a breakthrough agreement with the Dangote Group and other stakeholders, especially the unions.
The New Diplomat also gathered that the strike was called off after parties reached an agreement at a meeting convened by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Labour and Finance, as well as officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The decision, announced on Tuesday, averts potential fuel shortages and restores normal operations across the country’s petroleum sector, just as panic buying had begun to grip major cities.
The strike, which commenced on Monday, September 8, involved over 4,000 truck drivers and petroleum workers protesting the Dangote Refinery’s alleged refusal to allow unionization.
NUPENG described the company’s policies as “anti-worker and anti-union practices,” accusing it of attempting to “enslave” employees by denying them the right to join the union.
The action led to widespread disruptions in fuel loading at depots, sparking fears of looming scarcity amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.
