What sparked PTD’s call for NUPENG President, General Secretary to step down

By Chioma Obinagwam

‎ The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is embroiled in a deepening crisis as Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) stakeholders have called for the immediate resignation of NUPENG President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale. The demand, articulated in a statement issued on Sunday, September 21, 2025, by Comrade Preye Odede-Graham on behalf of PTD elders and stakeholders, cites leadership failures and internal strife as threats to the union’s stability.

‎The statement, co-signed by Comrades (Alhaji) Tajudeen Abubakar (Kaduna Zone), Chief (Comrade) Edafe Osas (Warri Zone), Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP) (Port Harcourt Zone), and Comrade Kolade Fadahunsi-Ojelabi (Lagos Zone), accuses Akporeha of a “lacklustre attitude” and Olawale of intimidating, victimizing, and harassing PTD members, actions deemed contrary to the union’s rules and human dignity.

‎The call for resignation comes amid ongoing industrial disputes involving NUPENG, Dangote Refinery, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other industry associations. PTD stakeholders expressed frustration with NUPENG’s leadership, particularly for using the union as “attack dogs” against the federal government, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other industry players.

‎The stakeholders praised Dangote Refinery’s resilience in overcoming market disruptions with its 650,000 barrels per day capacity, supported by 4,000 CNG trucks, 6,000 truck cargoes, and a N2 trillion investment to deliver products to consumers at no cost, creating over 40,000 jobs. They urged President Tinubu to impose higher tariffs on fuel imports, increase crude supply to Dangote Refinery, grant oil exploration licenses, and nationalize oil wells to revitalize dormant licensed sites.

‎The PTD also appealed to law enforcement, anti-graft agencies, industry regulators, trade unions, media, civil society, and legal professionals to support their push to “re-engineer” NUPENG by ousting Akporeha and Olawale, aiming to liberate the petroleum industry.

‎“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 and stop them once and for all, these multidimensional nonsense and slavery in the union must be hurriedly put to stop. United, we stand against every economic saboteurs and enemies of progress in Nigeria’s economic powerhouse,” the statement declared.

‎The escalating tensions within NUPENG signal a critical juncture for the union and Nigeria’s petroleum sector, with stakeholders demanding urgent reforms to restore stability and trust.

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