Dangote Truck Convoy Sparks Labor Dispute With NUPENG Over Rival Drivers’ Union

A simmering labor dispute has erupted between the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Dangote Industries after reports surfaced of Dangote-branded truck convoys linked to a new rival drivers’ association. NUPENG, one of Nigeria’s most influential labor unions, has described the move as a “management-inspired fraud” designed to weaken its bargaining power.

According to Vanguard Nigeria, the controversy centers on Dangote’s alleged involvement in creating a parallel drivers’ group, a development the union sees as a direct attempt to fracture its control over petroleum distribution networks. The timing is particularly sensitive, as Dangote continues to expand its transport footprint, including a $100 million joint venture with Sinotruck to assemble heavy-duty trucks locally.

Fearing the emergence of a competing power bloc among drivers, NUPENG has sounded alarms that this could destabilize decades of hard-won influence in Nigeria’s oil and transport sector. The union has a long history of flexing its muscles during national crises — most notably in 1993 when a strategic strike played a key role in political protests following the annulled elections.

The federal government has since stepped in, convening a conciliation meeting in Abuja to prevent the dispute from escalating into a wider industrial showdown. Labor watchers note that the government’s quick intervention reflects the high economic stakes: Dangote trucks are not only crucial to cement distribution but are also expected to play a major role in petroleum and logistics supply chains nationwide.

The backdrop to this row highlights the tense intersection of private industrial power and entrenched union influence. With Dangote Industries positioning itself as a transport giant through its Sinotruck partnership, and NUPENG determined to defend its relevance in a shifting labor landscape, the coming weeks may prove decisive for both sides.

For now, the sight of Dangote’s convoys on Nigerian highways has become more than just a marker of industrial might — it has become a symbol of a looming clash that could once again test the delicate balance between business interests, labor unions, and the state.