(DDM) – The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and other oil unions are under intense scrutiny following renewed controversies surrounding the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the refinery, which is the world’s largest single-train facility, recently accused labour unions of pursuing selfish interests rather than protecting workers.
The statement came after PENGASSAN threatened to picket operations, citing the alleged unjust dismissal of 800 employees.
The refinery countered that those disengaged were not victims of unfair labour practices but individuals whose actions endangered safety and disrupted production.
It maintained that over 3,000 Nigerians remain gainfully employed within the facility, dismissing the union’s claims as a smokescreen for sabotage.
Attention has also turned to NUPENG, which has been accused of turning into what critics describe as a “toll-collector.” Reports indicate that the union collects ₦50,000 per tanker at the refinery’s exit gate, even after products are lawfully loaded.
Analysts estimate that thousands of trucks move daily, making the levy a heavy burden that trickles down to ordinary Nigerians through higher pump prices.
Industry observers say such practices resemble extortion more than union service, portraying NUPENG as a beneficiary of a collapsed subsidy regime rather than a genuine defender of worker welfare.
The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have also been linked to coordinated efforts to pressure Dangote Industries.
DAPPMAN allegedly demanded a fictitious ₦1.505 trillion in subsidy claims, while PETROAN has been accused of clinging to fraudulent subsidy arrangements instead of embracing reforms.
Critics describe the unions and associations as remnants of the old subsidy cartel that crippled Nigeria’s economy through fraud, import dependence, and exploitation.
They argue that the Dangote Refinery, in which Nigeria holds a 5 percent stake, is a national asset central to energy security and must be shielded from blackmail.
Supporters of President Bola Tinubu’s administration point to ongoing reforms as proof that the era of subsidy abuse is over.
Subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, rising foreign reserves, increased FAAC allocations, and improvements in oil production are cited as evidence that the economy is stabilizing.
According to official data, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23 percent in Q2 2025, an improvement over 3.48 percent in the same period of 2024. External reserves reportedly hit $42 billion, the highest in six years, while oil output rose from 900,000 barrels per day to 1.7 million.
These measures, officials argue, have strengthened states’ capacity to pay higher wages and embark on major infrastructure projects.
Analysts warn that attempts to sabotage the refinery amount to an attack on the Nigerian people, as disruptions would threaten fuel supply, jobs, and broader economic stability.
They insist that security agencies must be proactive to prevent any shutdowns or blockades orchestrated by interest groups.
For ordinary Nigerians, the Dangote Refinery represents hope for cheaper fuel, greater self-sufficiency, and a break from decades of subsidy-driven fraud. Many fear that if labour cartels are allowed to interfere, the promise of reform may once again be stolen.