The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a warning to stakeholders in the oil industry, cautioning them against acknowledging or engaging with any new groups outside the recognized unions.
This announcement follows news of a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja by the newly formed Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP), which reportedly intends to discuss support for truck owners and address challenges faced by oil marketers.
In a statement, NUPENG President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale emphasized that only the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), and Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) are legitimate bodies within the sector. NUPENG, along with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), remains the only legally recognized umbrella union for oil and gas workers in Nigeria.
The union called on the public and government institutions to remain cautious, urging them to avoid engagement with unauthorized groups. NUPENG also advised Nigerians and officials to disregard any communications or invitations from the new association, reiterating its support for only the established associations within the downstream sector.
