Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has alleged that the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) collects up to N50,000 on every truck loading fuel from his refinery, a practice he says is driving up fuel pump prices and hurting consumers.
Speaking with journalists, Dangote said such fees, when combined with other charges, raise the cost per truck to as high as N84,000, which is ultimately passed on to Nigerians at the pump. He described the levies as “rent-seeking” that undermines efficiency and warned that his company would not allow any group to “hold us hostage.”
He also defended Dangote Group’s policy of keeping its 4,000 new CNG-powered trucks independent of union membership, insisting that joining a union must remain voluntary. “Even religion is voluntary — you cannot force anyone to convert,” he said.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, neither confirmed nor denied the charges, replying cryptically: “N50,000 now? No more N1 per litre?” The union had previously dismissed similar allegations as unsubstantiated.
The dispute follows a recent shutdown of depots and a blockade of the Dangote refinery by NUPENG over unionisation issues, which was resolved through a government-brokered agreement. An industrial court has since restrained the union from further blockades, but tensions persist.
Energy law expert, Prof. Dayo Ayoade, questioned the legality of the alleged levies. “The job of a union is to protect workers, not to collect fees on fuel loading. Is NUPENG now a tax authority?” he asked.
Analysts warn that such costs, if verified, act as a hidden tax on energy consumers and could worsen already high fuel prices. They urge the Federal Government to investigate, regulate loading charges, and ensure a balance between workers’ rights and consumer protection.
Dangote Group’s investment in a fleet of CNG-powered trucks is aimed at reducing distribution costs, cutting dependence on third-party transporters, and advancing Nigeria’s energy transition.
