Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote has responded to claims by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that his refinery is offering Nigerians “Greek gifts.”
Speaking on Monday at the refinery during the first anniversary of gasoline production, Mr Dangote dismissed the union’s criticism.
“They said we gave Nigerians a Greek gift, why don’t you give the French one? Even if it’s a Greek gift, it means that it is a gift that will still be there all the time,” he said.
Dangote also said the company has faced challenges since inception but remains committed to Nigeria and Africa.
“The journey has been challenging because we sought to transform the downstream sector in Nigeria. Some believed we were taking food from their tables, which simply isn’t true. What we have done is to make our country and continent proud. Previously, only two African countries were not importing petrol, but regrettably, they have since resumed imports. This is detrimental to Africa,” he stated.
Dangote recently announced lower petrol pump prices across several states alongside a new scheme to deploy compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks directly to filling stations.
The initiative is aimed at reducing logistics costs and stabilising fuel supply, a move the union has claimed sidelines its members.
However, NUPENG had cautioned Nigerians against accepting recent petrol price reductions announced by Dangote, alleging that the refinery was undermining workers’ rights, excluding the union and pushing drivers into a rival association, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) arm of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
The union also accused the refinery of attempting to weaken NUPENG’s influence in the downstream oil sector by dealing directly with rival transport groups.
It warned that such moves could trigger industrial unrest and threatened to mobilise its members for strike action if the situation was not addressed.
