BREAKING: Dangote-Backed New Trucking Company Writes NUPENG, Says Drivers Reject Union Membership

Amid the ongoing labour dispute between Dangote Group and petroleum workers’ unions, a newly formed trucking subsidiary, Direct Trucking Company Limited, has formally notified the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that its drivers are unwilling to join the union.

A letter dated September 30, 2025, and addressed to the NUPENG President in Lagos, was signed by Olosogo Basola, Director of Direct Trucking Company Limited.

The letter also included a list of 27 individuals identified as drivers under Direct Trucking Company Limited (DTCL).

The company stated that its employees had individually communicated their refusal to join the union, attaching copies of their signed letters.

“We hereby forward for your record and information letters from our Truck Drivers signifying their refusal to join/withdrawal of membership from NUPENG. The said letters specifically written and signed by each of the Truck Drivers personally are herewith attached to this letter,” the letter read in part.

The company further informed NUPENG that all dues and entitlements belonging to its drivers would henceforth be paid directly into their personal bank accounts.

Findings by SaharaReporters revealed that Direct Trucking Company Limited is a new logistics venture established by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in partnership with Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, Chairman of MRS Energy Limited.

The trucking firm was reportedly set up to deliver fuel and related products directly to filling stations and entrepreneurs, thereby reducing reliance on third-party transporters.

One of the letters obtained by SaharaReporters was written by a driver, Musa Adamu Sabo, and addressed to the company’s Managing Director. In the letter dated August 1, 2025, Sabo declared his disinterest in being a NUPENG member.

“I, Mr. Musa Adamu Sabo, freely and without prejudice, do not wish to be a member of NUPENG and humbly request that all my dues as well as entitlements be paid and deposited into my bank account effective 01-08-2025,” he wrote.

The development comes at a time when the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and NUPENG have been locked in a labour face-off with Dangote Group, accusing the company of engaging in anti-labour practices.

On September 7, NUPENG stated that the Direct Truck Drivers Association (DTCDA) was created by Alhaji Dantata, owner of MRS, in partnership with Alhaji Dangote for the operation of 10,000 CNG trucks being imported into the country.

It noted that the association, initially intended to be named Dangote Transport Company, is registered at 2, Tin Can Island Port Road, Apapa, Lagos, the same address as MRS Energy Limited.

“DTCDA is the association formed by Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata, the owner of MRS. The Direct Trucking Company Limited is the recruiting company that was formed by him and Alh Aliko Dangote for the 10,000 CNG Trucks they are importing,” it said.

“We want the general public to know that Alh Sayyu Aliu Dantata is the founder, Slaves' Owner and Slaves' Funder of Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA) and he is housing this Association in his official company headquarters,” NUPENG added in the statement.

“Slavery ended centuries ago but some unscrupulous Capitalists are making efforts to bring it back. Any worker who cannot exercise the right of association is no better than a slave. Ordinary Nigerians should neither encourage nor support slavish working conditions.”

Background

In late September 2025, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector was rocked by a labour crisis that pitted Dangote Group against PENGASSAN.

The dispute centered around the abrupt dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Refinery, many of whom had reportedly recently unionised under PENGASSAN.

The union accused the refinery’s management of anti-labour practices, alleging that Nigerian workers were being replaced with foreign nationals and penalised for exercising their right to unionise.

In response, PENGASSAN declared a nationwide strike on Sunday, September 28, directing its members to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery.

Negotiations began in earnest, with the Federal Government stepping in to mediate. Talks initially stalled, but by Tuesday, September 30, the discussions had moved to the Office of the National Security Adviser.

In the early hours of Wednesday, October 1, a breakthrough was reached. The Dangote Group agreed to redeploy the disengaged workers to other subsidiaries within its conglomerate, with no loss of pay or benefits.

The agreement also guaranteed that no worker would be victimised for their role in the dispute.

At a press conference in Abuja later that day, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo announced the suspension of the strike.

He emphasised that the union was not calling off the action entirely but merely putting it on hold.

“We are suspending and will be monitoring closely,” Osifo warned.

“Any slip on the part of Dangote, any part of this agreement, or any communiqué put out by the Ministry of Labour that is broken, we will not give any notice; we will resume this suspended industrial action”.

SaharaReporters’ attempts to contact Anthony Chiejina, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Dangote Group, proved unsuccessful as his line was unavailable for a long period.