NUPENG vs Dangote: The End of Fuel Scarcity Politics

BY P. MICHAEL. 

How a bold new trucking model is rewriting the rules of petroleum distribution in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is reportedly considering strike action following news that Dangote Group is set to directly employ more than 4,000 drivers for its new fleet of CNG-powered trucks. Their grievance? These drivers will not be under union control.

For decades, NUPENG has held enormous sway in Nigeria’s petroleum distribution system. Their bargaining power has too often been exercised through strikes and threats—leaving ordinary Nigerians to pay the price with fuel scarcity, long queues, and skyrocketing prices. But with Dangote’s bold new move, the old playbook is becoming obsolete.

Dangote’s Direct-Trucking Model

What Dangote is introducing is more than just a fleet of trucks—it’s a complete reordering of the fuel distribution chain.

• For fuel station owners: The headaches of hiring and managing drivers, maintaining trucks, and paying parking fees in truck yards are gone. Your job is simple: run your station, place your order, and Dangote’s trucks will deliver.
• For entrepreneurs: If you want to set up a new fuel station, you no longer need to worry about investing in multiple trucks or managing logistics. Just build your station, order products, and focus on sales. Dangote takes care of the rest.

This approach strips away inefficiencies, lowers costs, and makes entry into the business more attractive. It’s not just logistics—it’s liberation.

Why NUPENG Is Threatened

It’s clear why NUPENG and independent truck owners are uncomfortable. Their influence lies in controlling access to petroleum trucking. Without that leverage, their ability to “hold the country to ransom” diminishes.

But the truth is, Nigerians are tired of the old order—tired of artificial scarcity, endless negotiations, and fuel crises that cripple businesses and daily life. This change represents hope for a system that prioritizes efficiency and consumers over politics and power struggles.

A Game Changer for the Future

The broader implications are massive:

• Stability in supply → fewer strikes, fewer queues.
• Lower costs → less overhead for station owners and entrepreneurs.
• Encouragement of investment → more fuel stations opening across the country.
• Innovation in logistics → with modern CNG trucks, the system becomes more sustainable.

The End of an Era

NUPENG’s resistance is expected; every old guard resists disruption. But the tide has turned. Dangote’s model represents not just a business shift but a redefinition of power in the petroleum sector.

For NUPENG, truck owners, and other stakeholders, this might feel like the beginning of the end. For Nigerians, it is the dawn of a new era—one where efficiency, reliability, and service come first.

And I must say it plainly: I feel sorry for NUPENG. It’s game over. 🙋‍♂️

Comrade Abu Michael,is a social activist, theologian, policy political/political analyst, and blogger from Edo State.