A proposed nationwide strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is facing a fierce backlash, not from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery it’s protesting. Still, from the very people the union claims to represent.
Nigerians on social media have launched an unprecedented campaign supporting the Dangote Group, following NUPENG's threat to strike over the refinery's plan to deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for fuel distribution.
The conflict, which has been simmering for weeks, exploded across platforms like X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
For many Nigerians, this isn't just a dispute between a union and a private company; it’s a high-stakes battle over economic progress, efficiency, and the nation’s future.
The consensus across digital platforms is clear: Nigerians are tired of what they see as decades of union dominance and disruption.
On X, user @olat187 captured the prevailing sentiment, noting, “Nigerians stand with @DangoteGroup. @officialNUPENG9 has been making the lives of Nigerians unbearable for years.”
Another user, James O., was even more emphatic, stating, “Nigerians, the only business leader and saviour we have that keeps ordinary citizens surviving is @DangoteGroup… gone are those days, Nigerians are growing beyond all this.”
The refinery’s initiative, which aims to leverage cleaner, more cost-effective CNG technology, has been hailed as a revolutionary step in fuel logistics.
However, NUPENG has expressed concerns that the move could threaten its members’ jobs.
This stance has drawn sharp criticism from industry experts and commentators.
Prof. Olushola Bamidele drew a widely shared analogy, asking, “So, if I come up with a business innovation, you can try to force me to abandon my innovation?”
He likened the situation to a small-town seller bypassing middlemen to deliver products directly to customers, a move he argues is simply good business, not a cause for conflict.
Similarly, Dr Tosan Harriman pointed out what he views as NUPENG’s self-serving agenda.
“For a very long time, it is obvious that @officialNUPENG9 is spoiling for war over their restricted role in the present dynamics. They don’t think about the people, just self.”
Other social media users have gone further, suggesting a more sinister motive behind the union's actions.
@Joguns argued, “#DangoteRefinery is a private business... @AlikoDangote should be allowed to run his business legally and for of Nigerians.”
Tzalmon voiced suspicion, questioning whether “the @DangoteGroup truck accidents are orchestrated to sabotage the company.”
The debate even touched on the possibility of foreign influence, with one user suggesting that NLC and NUPENG are being used to “sabotage Dangote Refinery and thus Nigeria’s economy to save Western refineries that are worrying about declining fuel imports.”
The overwhelming support for the Dangote Group is not just a reaction to the strike threat but a testament to the public’s desire for progress and innovation.
A user on LinkedIn summarised the sentiment, stating, “Disruptive? Yes. But anything revolutionary faces resistance.
“What Dangote is doing will be studied in business schools around the world.”
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