By Our Correspondent
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has come out swinging in response to growing tension between the Dangote Group and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over the deployment of new bulk cargo trucks to distribute refined products across Nigeria.
The oil workers’ union had raised fears that the new move could push thousands of its members, especially tanker drivers, out of work. But Dangote, addressing journalists in a fiery press briefing captured by Arise News, dismissed the claims as unfounded, insisting that rather than taking jobs away, his multibillion-dollar refinery operations are creating more opportunities for drivers nationwide.
> “Every truck costs about ₦175 million to ₦190 million depending on the type. We have invested almost ₦2 trillion in trucking. How can somebody just say ‘don’t operate, park’? Where and how?” Dangote queried, visibly frustrated.
The business mogul revealed that the Dangote Group has so far rolled out 3,980 bulk cargo trucks from its refinery fleet, a move he said would revolutionize product delivery to filling stations across the country. He further noted that one of the challenges has not been oversupply of drivers, but rather a shortage, as drivers are now in high demand nationwide.
To close this gap, Dangote disclosed that the company has established specialized driver training schools, placing heavy emphasis on safety and professional standards. He assured that any driver who feels left out is welcome to join the system and benefit from better pay and working conditions.
Rejecting NUPENG’s narrative of looming mass unemployment, Dangote stressed that the new trucks represent job creation, not job losses.
> “Nobody has lost a job. Instead, we need more drivers. If anyone says they are out of work, they should come forward—we will employ them,” he said firmly.
The clash highlights the broader tension between traditional labor unions and the scale of private-sector investments reshaping Nigeria’s energy and logistics industries.
With almost ₦2 trillion already sunk into trucking infrastructure, Dangote’s words carry weight—not just as a business declaration, but as a signal of how Nigeria’s refinery-driven future could reframe the country’s job market.
PIONEER NEWS 