Nigeria is bracing for a major fuel crisis as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) begins a nationwide strike today, Monday, September 8, 2025, despite urgent efforts by the Federal Government to halt the action. The strike, triggered by Dangote Refinery’s plan to import 4,000 CNG-powered trucks and reportedly block unionisation of new drivers, has drawn strong reactions across the country. NUPENG insists the move threatens thousands of tanker driver jobs and undermines workers’ rights, accusing Dangote and his associates of anti-labour practices. The Minister of Labour has called an emergency meeting to find a solution, but NUPENG says there’s “no going back.” Fuel marketers, under PETROAN, have also backed the strike, announcing a three-day suspension of operations starting Tuesday. If unresolved, this could grind fuel supply to a halt, with massive ripple effects on transportation, businesses, and daily life.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has thrown his weight behind the strike, saying Dangote’s refusal to allow workers join unions is unconstitutional and violates international labour laws. Meanwhile, some economic rights groups are urging unions to rethink the strike, warning it could cripple small businesses, inflate prices, and hit ordinary Nigerians the hardest. They argue that the timing could derail Nigeria’s efforts at fuel independence through the Dangote refinery. But NUPENG remains defiant, calling attempts to discredit the strike a ploy by powerful interests to silence labour and monopolise the sector. As tension builds, all eyes are on today’s meeting in Abuja, will the government broker a last-minute deal, or will Nigeria wake up to dry pumps and skyrocketing prices?
