The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has publicly distanced itself from the planned industrial action by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and allied groups.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawan Dan-Zaki, stated that the association had no involvement in the proposed strike and fully supports the evolving distribution framework led by the Dangote Refinery.

NUPENG had earlier announced its intention to embark on a nationwide strike starting Monday, citing alleged anti-labour practices tied to the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct product distribution.

The union also warned that the action could lead to widespread fuel scarcity.

The new trucks, deployed by Dangote Refinery, are part of a broader strategy aimed at cutting down logistics costs, enhancing fuel distribution efficiency, and promoting sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria.

Dan-Zaki dismissed the strike as unnecessary and reiterated ADITOP’s endorsement of the new system:

“We, members of ADITOP, hereby inform the general public and the federal government that we dissociate ourselves from any intended strike or disruption by NUPENG and its cohorts.
We intend to continue moving petroleum products across the country without fear of molestation.”

He praised Dangote’s efforts, describing them as pivotal to transforming the petroleum distribution sector:

“Dangote’s transformational efforts would not only sanitise the industry but would further stabilise both supply and distribution, while providing jobs and new skills to millions of unemployed Nigerians.”

Highlighting the potential benefits to the nation, Dan-Zaki added:

“ADITOP is in support of any petroleum products distribution scheme aimed at distributing products to the end users seamlessly and promoting economic development.”

Residents of Sokoto State are bracing for a possible fuel crisis after members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) began enforcing a shutdown of filling stations across the state capital.

As of Monday, several petrol stations were observed to have been closed, with NUPENG officials halting tanker movements along key routes, including Gusau Road and highways connecting Sokoto to neighboring states.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of barricades and palm fronds used by union members to seal off access to fuel depots and stations, effectively cutting off supply and disrupting normal transportation activities in the metropolis.

Though no official statement has been released by NUPENG’s national body, an enforcement official who spoke anonymously confirmed that the directive came from the union’s national leadership.

“We got the order around midnight to shut down operations, and we are simply following instructions,” the official told newsmen.

The sudden development has already begun to impact daily life. Commercial transporters, particularly tricycle (keke) operators, are facing operational challenges.

One operator, Bello Musa, shared his frustration:

“I came out early to work and found that most filling stations are closed. If this continues, transport fares will rise, and everyone will feel it. We don’t even know why they’re striking.”

Commuters are also worried about the likely ripple effects of the shutdown, including inflated transport costs and broader economic disruption if fuel scarcity sets in.

As of the time of this report, no clear reason has been given by NUPENG’s national executives for the sudden enforcement action in Sokoto.

This has only heightened speculation and concern among residents, who are uncertain how long the situation will last.

Nigeria’s power sector is facing a deepening financial crisis as the national electricity grid stands to lose approximately ₦5.6 trillion in revenue by the end of 2025.

This is due to the ongoing exit of premium customers, industries and high-income households who are shifting to off-grid and alternative power solutions.

Currently, the Federal Government is grappling with a 4 trillion legacy debt to electricity generation companies (GenCos). New arrears have ballooned to ₦1.6 trillion as of August 2025 and are projected to reach ₦2.2 trillion by December.

Combined, total sector liabilities are now at ₦5.6 trillion.

According to sources at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), only 13% of commercial customers now rely on the national grid, a sharp decline from 20%.

Rising electricity tariffs, poor supply reliability, and frequent grid failures have pushed businesses and elite households to invest in solar, gas, and other decentralized energy systems.

In 2024 alone, manufacturers spent ₦1 trillion on self-generation.

– NERC licensed 24 bulk consumers and 22 off-grid projects, adding nearly 289MW of capacity outside the national grid.

– Several states including Lagos, Jigawa, Delta, Zamfara and Katsina signed renewable energy deals.

The Federal Government is also planning to remove its agencies from the national grid, further shrinking the customer base.

With fewer premium customers paying higher rates, the government now faces an estimated ₦200 billion monthly tariff shortfall.

Despite promises to settle debts and stabilize the sector, the Tinubu administration has yet to provide a clear roadmap.

Though a promissory note program and ₦900 billion in subsidies were included in the 2025 budget, stakeholders argue this is inadequate, given that yearly subsidy needs average ₦2 trillion.

Efforts to enforce NERC’s newly issued Free Governor Control (FGC) regulation meant to stabilize grid frequency could add another ₦1.059 trillion annually in liabilities.

Most power plants are unable or unwilling to comply with the FGC order due to lack of compensation for idle or available capacity.

Industry leaders argue that without proper funding, GenCos will continue to disable stabilizing controls to avoid revenue losses, Grid instability will worsen and More customers will abandon the grid.

Dr. Joy Ogaji, Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), emphasized the urgent need for immediate settlement of GenCos’ receivables, transparent reconciliation of power supply invoices and enforcement of quarterly reviews.

She warned that continued instability is damaging equipment, increasing operational costs and deterring private sector participation.

Unless the Federal Government urgently intervenes with a sustainable financial and operational framework, Nigeria’s electricity market may face further collapse leaving the national grid to serve only the poorest citizens, while the wealthiest fully transition to alternative energy.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has confirmed that the Federal Government has initiated talks aimed at resolving the issues behind the association’s planned three-day nationwide suspension of fuel distribution, set to begin at midnight on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The update was given by PETROAN National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, during an interview on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme aired on Monday.

Gillis-Harry explained that the proposed shutdown was primarily a response to alleged monopolistic practices by the Dangote Refinery, which he claims is attempting to dominate the downstream petroleum sector from refining and logistics to retail distribution.

“This isn’t a fight, we want Dangote Refinery to succeed. But the industry must function with clearly defined roles for all stakeholders. What we’re insisting on is fairness and efficiency,” he said.

According to PETROAN’s Public Relations Officer, Joseph Obele, the association had given the government until Monday night to engage stakeholders and avert the shutdown, which is aimed at resisting monopolistic control and defending workers’ rights.

In a related development, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also issued a strike notice, effective Monday, September 8, citing what it described as exploitative labour practices by Dangote Refinery.

The union, in a statement signed by President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olufemi, likened the treatment of workers to “modern-day slavery.”

While NUPENG has not yet fully downed tools, the union issued a warning strike notice, alerting the public of an impending disruption if concerns are not addressed.

“Our retail outlets staff are union members. So, if NUPENG proceeds with the strike, our operations will be automatically grounded,” Gillis-Harry explained.

The Dangote Group has not responded publicly to the accusations.

However, tensions are reportedly being fueled by the refinery’s recent move to import 4,000 CNG-powered trucks to handle direct distribution, bypassing traditional logistics players in the industry.

PETROAN and NUPENG argue that such vertical integration undermines existing structures and could lead to unregulated pricing, poor labour standards, and a potential crisis in fuel supply chain management.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has urged restraint from all parties.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, in a statement issued by ministry spokesperson Patience Onuobia, appealed to both PETROAN and NUPENG to suspend any planned industrial action.

The ministry also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its red alert, which had urged affiliate unions to prepare for solidarity action.

“We are actively engaging all stakeholders to ensure the sector remains stable,” Dingyadi said.

“A disruption in the petroleum distribution chain at this time could have significant economic consequences.”

Consultations between the government and stakeholders reportedly intensified over the weekend and continued into Monday.

Both PETROAN and NUPENG expressed cautious optimism that a resolution could be reached before the Tuesday deadline.