- BREAKING: Dangote Refinery Drama Explodes as Union Deal Crashes and Burns
 
CoolNews Exclusive – September 12, 2025
By the CoolNews Investigation Team
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The Tea: Nigeria’s Biggest Refinery vs. The Workers Union 🔥
Serious workplace drama is brewing that could mess with your fuel supply real quick. The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote’s massive $20 billion refinery are throwing down in what’s turning into Nigeria’s most heated industrial beef of the year.
What Actually Happened?
Just this week, both sides signed what was thought to be a peace treaty—a Memorandum of Understanding—after NUPENG shut down fuel stations nationwide on September 8. The agreement? Simple: let tanker drivers join unions if they want to. Basic worker rights, right?
Plot twist: Within 48 hours, that deal was allegedly torn up faster than a fake designer bag.
The Main Characters
Williams Akporeha – NUPENG’s National President, not holding back. He accused Dangote’s cousin of breaking the deal.

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Sayyu Aliu Dantata – Aliko Dangote’s cousin, who runs the trucking operations. According to NUPENG, he literally flew over protesting workers in a helicopter before calling in the Nigerian Navy.
The Government – Acting like referee but looking powerless.
The Helicopter Incident Everyone Is Talking About
According to Akporeha’s explosive statement, Dantata didn’t just break the agreement—he went full villain mode:
> “Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the union officials.”
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Workers were also allegedly told to rip NUPENG stickers off their trucks and pretend the union didn’t exist.
Dangote Fires Back: “This Is All Lies”
Dangote management responded on September 11, calling NUPENG’s claims “wholly inaccurate” and accusing the union of trying to sabotage progress.
Their defense? The refinery is creating 60,000+ jobs through a new compressed natural gas truck program, offering benefits that include pensions, insurance, housing loans, and medical coverage.
Dangote also denied monopoly accusations, reminding critics that over 30 other refinery licenses exist and that competitors like BUA are building their own plants.
The Real Stakes: Your Fuel Supply
NUPENG has put its members on “red alert” and threatened to resume their nationwide strike on September 15 if Dangote doesn’t comply.
Translation: potential fuel scarcity, price hikes, and long lines at gas stations.
Industry Players Weigh In
Fuel Marketers (PETROAN): Urging both parties to respect the agreement.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC): Described Dangote’s actions as a “gross violation” and warned that the refinery was acting like a state within a state.
One NLC executive even quipped: “Where then is the refinery located—what we might as well call the ‘Dangote Republic’? That is treasonous.”
Government’s Awkward Position
The Ministry of Labour insists no formal complaint has reached them yet. But analysts warn that if Dangote openly ignores a government-brokered deal, it undermines state authority.
What’s Really at Stake
This clash isn’t just about union stickers. It’s about:
Worker Rights: Can employees freely join unions in 2025 Nigeria?
Corporate Power: How much influence should one company have?
Government Authority: Can the state enforce its own agreements?
Everyday Life: Will Nigerians be able to buy fuel without drama?
The Bottom Line
As September 15 approaches, Nigerians are watching closely. Will the refinery and union settle, or will the country face another round of fuel scarcity chaos?
For Dangote, it’s about protecting a business model meant to revolutionize the fuel sector. For NUPENG, it’s about safeguarding basic worker rights.
For the rest of us? We just hope we won’t be stuck in endless fuel lines again.
Stay tuned to CoolNews for updates on this developing story.
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