Fuel loading resumed on Wednesday following the agreement signed by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Tuesday.

NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, confirmed to our correspondent on Wednesday that depots and other petroleum facilities that were earlier shut down as a result of the two-day strike had been reopened.

When asked if the union had reopened depots that were shut on Monday and Tuesday, Akporeha simply replied, “Yes!”

Recall that NUPENG had embarked on a strike to protest the refusal of the Dangote refinery to allow its drivers to join the union. It was alleged that Dangote barred the drivers being recruited for its 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas-powered trucks from joining any trade union or association.

On Monday, when the strike started, depots and some filling stations were shut, especially as the first meeting organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment failed to broker peace between the warring parties.

However, on Tuesday evening, both parties reached an agreement to work together, following the mediation of the Department of State Services.

“The management agreed with this fact and responded that they are not averse to the unionisation of their employees by labour unions in tandem with the provisions of the extant labour laws.

After exhaustive deliberations, the following resolutions were reached by both parties: That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and the unionisation of employees of Petrochemicals who are willing to unionise.

“That the process of unionisation shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th-22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union. Arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical will be victimised,” the agreement read in part.

Our correspondent gathered from operators that petroleum tanker drivers resumed fuel loading on Wednesday, allaying fears of an impending fuel crisis.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis Harry, announced that the association has also called off its nationwide strike.

He said the strike, which involved the suspension of dispensing, was halted following “intense negotiations and a resolution mediated by ministers, security agencies, and government agencies between Dangote Refinery and NUPENG.”

The president noted that PETROAN members have been directed to resume dispensing nationwide immediately. “Normalcy has returned to the petroleum sector as fuel supply returns to normal, with depots and filling stations resuming operations,” Gillis-Harry said.

He commended PETROAN members for their 100 per cent compliance nationwide during the strike, noting their discipline and solidarity.

“PETROAN is thankful to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of State for Petroleum, the NMDPRA, the Director of DSS, and the Inspector General of Police for their roles in resolving the dispute. The call-off is seen as a positive development for the nation’s economy,” he said. (PUNCH)

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