(DDM) – Nigerians may face fresh queues at filling stations as the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has threatened to suspend fuel distribution nationwide for three days beginning Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the warning stems from what the association described as “monopolistic practices” threatening the survival of independent players in the downstream petroleum sector.
Speaking at a press briefing, PETROAN President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, expressed deep concerns about the growing market dominance of the Dangote Refinery.
He said the refinery’s aggressive push is gradually squeezing out private depot operators, modular refineries, and petroleum truck owners, all of whom have been critical to Nigeria’s fuel distribution chain for decades.
“If this trend continues unchecked, thousands of workers in the downstream sector could lose their jobs,” Gillis-Harry warned. “We cannot allow one operator to determine the fate of an entire industry.”
Fear of unemployment and rising costs
According to PETROAN, the refinery’s dominance could trigger job losses on a massive scale, with downstream operators unable to compete in pricing and supply.
Truck drivers, depot owners, and retail station operators may be the first victims, further worsening Nigeria’s unemployment crisis.
The association stressed that a collapse of competition would not only affect jobs but also drive up costs for consumers, with fuel prices likely to remain unstable.
Appeal for presidential intervention
Gillis-Harry appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to intervene before Tuesday’s deadline.
He also called on petroleum regulators to uphold fair competition policies and ensure that no single entity dictates the future of the industry.
“The President must act now to save jobs, safeguard competition, and protect the Nigerian people,” he said.
Strike preparedness and directives
In anticipation of the suspension, PETROAN directed members not to punish fuel attendants who belong to the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), assuring them of protection during the strike period.
Compliance monitoring teams will be deployed to filling stations nationwide to prevent sabotage and maintain order.
Background and wider implications
Nigeria’s downstream sector has long been plagued by inefficiencies, policy inconsistencies, and over-reliance on imports.
The launch of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery earlier this year was hailed as a game-changer, but fears are now emerging that its dominance could dismantle existing structures rather than complement them.
Industry experts warn that if PETROAN’s strike goes ahead, millions of Nigerians could face immediate hardship, with fuel scarcity disrupting transportation, businesses, and power generation in a fragile economy still battling inflation and currency instability.
For now, all eyes remain on the Presidency and regulators, as Nigerians brace for possible fuel scarcity in the coming days.
