4,000 Dangote Trucks, Rising Tension: NAPS Warns Oil Sector Clash Must Not Hurt Nigerians

PRESS STATEMENT

4,000 Dangote Trucks, Rising Tension: NAPS Warns Oil Sector Clash Must Not Hurt Nigerians

The Senate Arm of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), as the intellectual watchdog and voice of Nigerian students, has followed with keen interest the recent face-off between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Dangote Group and therefore called for dialogue between all parties.

This was made known in a Press release jointly signed by the President of the Senate, Sen. Comr. Oyewumi Festus Ayomide and the Clerk of the Senate, Sen. Comr. Jimoh Ibrahim, adding that; "We recognize that the entry of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Sayyu Dantata into the downstream oil and gas sector has disrupted existing market dynamics, bringing in new competition that has raised legitimate concerns among industry players. However, we caution that this matter should not be allowed to degenerate into confrontation that will further inflict hardship on ordinary Nigerians and students who are already battling inflation and the high cost of living."

The Senate Arm of NAPS therefore called on all parties; NUPENG, PETROAN, IPMAN, and the Dangote Group to embrace dialogue as the only sustainable path forward. Dialogue, not threats, will provide a level playing ground for addressing fears of monopoly while ensuring Nigerians enjoy cheaper, safer, and more consistent access to petroleum products.

They further charged the unions to avoid selfish interest in this conversation. The Nigerian people have endured decades of fuel scarcity, arbitrary price hikes, and inefficiency in the sector under the watch of various unions and marketers. If the entry of the Dangote Refinery and its 4,000 CNG powered trucks by far the largest fleet in Nigeria’s petroleum logistics industry will guarantee steady supply and reduce costs, then the unions must prioritize the welfare of Nigerians above narrow economic considerations.

“We must also acknowledge the contribution of the Dangote Group to Nigeria’s economy. From cement to agriculture and now oil and gas, Dangote has consistently invested billions of dollars, creating thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s GDP. With no single company in Nigeria owning up to 2,000 trucks, Dangote’s 4,000 CNG powered fleet at half the operating cost of diesel positions him as a market leader with a capacity that cannot be wished away. This reality must guide the approach of all stakeholders,” NAPS senate added.

“Our keen interest is that of the Nigerian masses and students whose lives are daily shaped by economic realities.” They strongly advised that rather than threats of mass action, stakeholders should sit at a roundtable with government regulators to design frameworks that will check excesses, protect workers’ rights, and prevent abuse of market power, while still allowing innovation and efficiency to thrive.

Nigeria cannot afford another industrial crisis in the petroleum sector. The Senate Arm of NAPS stands with Nigerians in demanding peace, fairness, and cheaper fuel. Dialogue is the way forward, not threats. They warned.




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