Movement of trucks into the Dangote Refinery has been halted after members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) taskforce blocked MRS Oil vehicles from accessing the facility, Petroleumprice.ng correspondents confirmed on site.
The blockade, which also trapped several other trucks at the refinery gates, followed allegations that MRS drivers removed NUPENG stickers from their vehicles shortly after a conciliation meeting earlier this week between the union and Dangote management.
Eyewitnesses reported a crowd of stranded drivers and parked trucks outside the refinery as union taskforce members enforced the restriction, effectively suspending loading activities.
Root of the Dispute
The clash highlights unresolved tensions between NUPENG, MRS, and Dangote Refinery. While Dangote management recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to workers’ unionization, disputes tied to MRS remain unsettled.
“This is not just about stickers,” a union source told Petroleumprice.ng. “It reflects deeper, unresolved issues from the earlier dispute involving Dangote, MRS, and NUPENG.”
Broader Impact
The disruption has halted loading at Africa’s largest refinery, a critical hub in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. Analysts warn the standoff could worsen distribution bottlenecks and heighten uncertainty in a market already rattled by price volatility.
As of press time, neither Dangote Group nor MRS Oil had issued an official response. Industry stakeholders expect the Ministry of Labour to intervene if the blockade drags on.
