Tensions are brewing in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector following disputes involving the Dangote Refinery, oil workers, and petroleum marketers.
Former Senate Leader and Borno South Senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has cautioned stakeholders against actions that could destabilize the industry and harm ordinary Nigerians.
The conflict stems from recent industrial action by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which accused Dangote Refinery of preventing its truck drivers from unionizing as stipulated by the Trade Union Act.
At the same time, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) alleged that the refinery was offering products at lower prices to foreign traders while charging higher rates to local marketers.
Although the Department of State Services (DSS) intervened to broker peace with the oil workers, concerns remain over the potential fallout of the dispute.
Ndume expressed worry that negative narratives surrounding the refinery could damage both its reputation and Nigeria’s image internationally.
He recalled that while several administrations in the past granted licenses to private investors to establish refineries, most of the beneficiaries failed to make tangible investments.
Many, he noted, merely exploited government incentives without building facilities. In contrast, Dangote had taken the risk to construct Africa’s largest privately-owned refinery, filling a gap left by decades of underinvestment.
Ndume rejected claims of monopoly in the sector, stressing that Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act has already established a deregulated framework designed to encourage competition.
He emphasized that no company, including Dangote Refinery, has been given unfair concessions at the expense of others.
The former Senate Chief Whip urged regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to closely monitor developments and ensure disputes do not disrupt fuel supply across the country.
He also appealed to unions, industry players, and marketers to prioritize constructive dialogue over confrontation, warning that prolonged feuds would only hurt consumers.
According to him, striking a balance between protecting labour rights and safeguarding national development should remain the collective goal of all stakeholders in the petroleum sector.
