The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has voiced its support for the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) after the union decided to shut down petrol distribution in Nigeria. NUPENG instructed its members to stop work on Monday, 9 September, citing a dispute with Dangote Refinery over alleged anti‑labour practices. Central to the controversy is Dangote Refinery’s plan to introduce 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks, which NUPENG says will displace existing drivers.
NARTO has aligned itself with NUPENG, strongly rejecting the refinery’s initiative as a deliberate attempt to eliminate thousands of independent transporters. According to NARTO’s national president, Yusuf Lawal Othman, the association operates more than 30,000 trucks nationwide, employing thousands of drivers, assistants and service providers. These operations support millions of dependents and are backed by financial commitments from local and international banks, marketers and depot owners.
The association is calling on the federal government, relevant ministries and the Dangote Group to create a forum for meaningful dialogue among stakeholders. Such a platform would aim to ensure fair competition, safeguard the welfare of millions who rely on the petroleum transport and distribution sector, and prevent any operator from being strangled. NARTO emphasized that its collective action is not against investment or industrial growth but against monopolistic practices that threaten jobs, national security and the broader Nigerian economy.
By backing NUPENG’s decision to halt petrol distribution, NARTO seeks to protect the interests of its members and the Nigerian people. The dispute between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery has significant implications for Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream sector. As the situation unfolds, the response of the federal government and other stakeholders to NARTO’s call for dialogue will determine the future of independent transporters and the country’s petroleum distribution network, with far‑reaching consequences for the economy as a whole.
Comments are closed for this story.