PETROAN has announced plans to halt fuel lifting and sales nationwide from Tuesday, September 9, in solidarity with NUPENG’s strike.
The group warned Dangote Refinery’s dominance could threaten jobs and destabilize the sector.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has announced plans to suspend the lifting and dispensing of petroleum products starting Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The decision was announced in a statement by PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, following directives from the association’s National President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, during a meeting with members in Abuja.
The planned action aligns with the strike announced by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which is protesting against alleged job insecurity for its members and the business practices of Dangote Refinery.
Dr. Gillis-Harry emphasized that PETROAN’s action would be lawful and peaceful, stressing that the association’s advocacy is aimed at promoting healthy competition and preventing monopolistic dominance in the downstream petroleum sector.
According to PETROAN, Dangote Refinery’s aggressive business strategy threatens to push private depot owners, modular refineries, marketers, and truck operators out of business. Gillis-Harry warned that such a scenario could lead to millions of job losses and devastate the Nigerian economy.
He likened the refinery’s dominance strategy to the “Father Christmas” approach that once reshaped the cement industry, cautioning Nigerians not to be swayed by short-term benefits at the expense of long-term consequences.
PETROAN urged President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), the Group CEO of NNPC, the Authority Chief Executive of NMDPRA, and security chiefs to intervene to prevent nationwide fuel shortages and economic hardship urgently.
The association stressed that its members remain committed to price stability and consumer protection but warned that failure to address monopoly fears could destabilize the entire sector.
Since pump attendants at PETROAN stations are registered members of NUPENG, they are also expected to participate in the strike. PETROAN has directed filling station owners not to penalize or dismiss any attendants who are absent during the industrial action.
To enforce compliance, the association stated that it would mobilize a 120-member monitoring team to safeguard member facilities and ensure orderly participation in the shutdown.
Analysts warn that if the strike proceeds, it could trigger a fuel scarcity and rising prices nationwide, exacerbating hardship for citizens and businesses already struggling with economic pressures.
