Dangote-Backed Direct Trucking Company Notifies NUPENG: Drivers Reject Union Membership

A fresh twist has emerged in the ongoing labour dispute between the Dangote Group and Nigeria’s oil and gas unions as a new Dangote-backed trucking company, Direct Trucking Company Limited (DTCL), has formally informed the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that its drivers do not wish to join the union.

In a letter dated September 30, 2025, and addressed to the NUPENG President in Lagos, the company made it clear that its truck drivers had individually communicated their refusal to be union members. The letter was signed by Olosogo Basola, Director of Direct Trucking Company Limited, and accompanied by a list of 27 registered drivers under the firm.

Drivers Submit Signed Letters Declining Membership

The correspondence included copies of individually signed letters from drivers who expressed disinterest in being part of NUPENG. Each letter reportedly carried the personal signature of the driver concerned, reinforcing the claim that the decision was voluntary.

The DTCL letter read in part:
“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 company further disclosed that henceforth, all dues and entitlements due to its drivers would be paid directly into their personal bank accounts, bypassing any union deductions or intermediary arrangements.

One such document obtained by SaharaReporters was authored by a driver, Musa Adamu Sabo. In his August 1, 2025 letter to the company’s Managing Director, he stated:
“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.”

Dangote and Dantata Behind New Logistics Venture

Investigations revealed that Direct Trucking Company Limited is a new logistics subsidiary established by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in partnership with Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, Chairman of MRS Energy Limited.

The company is reportedly part of a larger plan to streamline fuel and product delivery from the Dangote Refinery and other subsidiaries directly to filling stations and independent marketers. The move is designed to reduce reliance on third-party transporters and minimize disruptions in fuel distribution.

The development comes amid heightened tension between Dangote Group and Nigeria’s petroleum sector unions over allegations of anti-labour practices, unfair dismissals, and attempts to weaken union activities.

NUPENG Pushes Back, Alleges “Modern-Day Slavery”

The news of the drivers’ rejection of NUPENG membership has sparked a strong reaction from the union. On September 7, NUPENG had alleged that the Direct Truck Drivers Association (DTCDA) was created by Dangote and Dantata to undermine established unions and prevent workers from exercising their constitutional right of association.

According to NUPENG, the association was initially to be registered as Dangote Transport Company and operates out of 2, Tin Can Island Port Road, Apapa, Lagos — the same address as MRS Energy Limited.

In a strongly worded statement, the union declared:
“DTCDA is the association formed by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata, the owner of MRS. The Direct Trucking Company Limited is the recruiting company that was formed by him and Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the 10,000 CNG trucks they are importing.

“We want the general public to know that Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata is the founder, Slaves’ Owner, and Slaves’ Funder of Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association (DTCDA). 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.”

The union accused the company of coercing workers into signing withdrawal forms and warned that suppressing organised labour would set a dangerous precedent in Nigeria’s already fragile industrial environment.

Background to the Labour Dispute

This latest controversy follows a major showdown between Dangote Group and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The dispute escalated in late September after the sudden dismissal of over 800 refinery workers, many of whom had recently unionised under PENGASSAN.

The union accused Dangote Refinery of replacing Nigerian workers with foreign nationals and targeting those who joined union activities. In response, PENGASSAN declared a nationwide strike on September 28, instructing members to halt gas and crude oil supply to the refinery.

The industrial action crippled operations and prompted urgent intervention from the Federal Government. Negotiations, mediated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, led to an agreement on October 1. Dangote Group pledged to redeploy the disengaged workers within the conglomerate without loss of pay or benefits, while assuring that no employee would be victimised.

PENGASSAN later suspended its strike but warned that it remained on high alert. “Any slip on the part of Dangote, any part of this agreement, or any communiqué broken, we will resume this suspended industrial action without notice,” said PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo.

Analysts Warn of Industrial Unrest

The establishment of Direct Trucking Company Limited and its drivers’ rejection of NUPENG has been widely interpreted as a calculated move by Dangote and Dantata to bypass organised labour influence in the logistics chain of petroleum products.

While some commentators argue that membership of any union should be voluntary, others warn that the move could deepen mistrust and trigger more industrial unrest, especially given the unions’ history of mobilising nationwide strikes in response to perceived anti-labour policies.

Labour experts say that if unions feel excluded from strategic operations around the Dangote Refinery — which is expected to dominate Nigeria’s petroleum market — further disputes may arise, potentially threatening fuel supply stability across the country.

Future of Industrial Relations in Nigeria

The clash between Dangote Group, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN reflects broader concerns about the balance between private enterprise and workers’ rights in Nigeria. While employers argue for flexibility and efficiency, unions insist that the right of association must remain sacrosanct.

As Nigeria positions itself to benefit from the massive output of the Dangote Refinery and associated logistics ventures, how these disputes are managed will play a key role in shaping industrial harmony in the oil and gas sector.

For now, Direct Trucking Company Limited has taken a firm stance: its drivers will not be part of NUPENG. But whether this will hold in the face of growing union pressure remains to be seen.