Dangote Fires Back: “We Won’t Be Held Hostage By NUPENG”

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of contributing to the rise in fuel pump prices across the country.

Dangote alleged that union members collect between ₦48,000 and ₦50,000 from every truck loading fuel at the refinery, adding that the cumulative charges—ranging from ₦80,000 to ₦84,000—are eventually passed on to consumers. He described the practice as a form of rent-seeking that undermines efficiency in the petroleum sector.

Speaking in response to NUPENG’s claims that the Dangote Group is preventing drivers of its newly introduced fleet of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks from joining the union, Dangote dismissed the accusations as unfounded.

“There are several charges here. If a truck is going to load, NUPENG has been collecting about ₦50,000 on each truck. By the time others add their own, the total rises to over ₦80,000. Who pays for that? It is the consumer,” he said.

The billionaire businessman recalled similar challenges during his company’s years as a fuel importer, when transporters allegedly exploited the system, forcing the group to create its own in-house fleet managed by his brother. He emphasized that with the launch of the company’s CNG-powered trucks, no union or group would be allowed to hold the company hostage.

Dangote further stressed that membership of any union remains voluntary, in line with the constitution and labour laws. “If anybody wants to join a union, even among our workers, they are free to do so. But it must be voluntary. Even religion is voluntary; no one can be forced,” he added.