Fresh Crisis Rocks NUPENG as Petroleum Tanker Drivers Demand Resignation of President, General Secretary
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is once again engulfed in turmoil as Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical branch of the union, have called for the immediate resignation of the union’s President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale.
The demand, contained in a strongly worded statement signed by Comrade Preye Odede-Graham on Sunday, September 21, 2025, reflects growing discontent within the PTD branch. The statement was endorsed by influential stakeholders including Alhaji Tajudeen Abubakar (Kaduna Zone), Chief Edafe Osas (Warri Zone), Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (Port Harcourt Zone), and Comrade Kolade Fadahunsi-Ojelabi (Lagos Zone).
The tanker drivers accused the current NUPENG leadership of poor performance, harassment, and intimidation of members, describing their actions as a betrayal of union principles and human dignity. They further blamed the union’s leadership for recent industrial disputes involving Dangote Refinery, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other industry stakeholders.
According to PTD, the union’s current leadership has weaponized the branch as an “attack dog” against the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other industry actors. The group said it would no longer be party to such practices.
The tanker drivers also criticised NUPENG for failing to acknowledge the achievements of the Dangote Refinery, which they hailed as a national asset. They highlighted the refinery’s 650,000 barrels per day capacity, its deployment of 4,000 CNG tankers and 6,000 cargo trucks—together valued at N2 trillion—and its creation of over 40,000 jobs, describing these feats as transformative for Nigeria’s energy sector.
In addition, the PTD urged President Tinubu to implement policies that would discourage fuel importation, boost crude supply to the Dangote Refinery, and grant new oil exploration licences. They further called for nationalisation of idle oil wells to revive moribund sites.
The group also appealed to law enforcement agencies, anti-graft bodies, regulators, civil society, and the media to support their demand for sweeping reforms in NUPENG. Their statement stressed that the removal of Akporeha and Olawale was essential for stability in the union and progress in the petroleum sector.
“On this note, we therefore appeal to all our members in PTD and others in various branches not to be despaired. Let us join hands together and win the battle against these common enemies. These multidimensional nonsense and slavery in the union must be hurriedly put to stop. United, we stand against every economic saboteur and enemy of progress in Nigeria’s economic powerhouse,” the statement declared.
This fresh crisis deepens the leadership struggle within one of Nigeria’s most influential unions, with implications for both the stability of the oil and gas industry and the broader economy.
