Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of collecting up to ₦50,000 per truck loading fuel at his refinery, warning that such charges inflate pump prices and burden consumers.
Speaking to journalists, Dangote described the alleged levies as “rent-seeking” that discourages efficiency in the sector. “By the time everybody collects their own, you’re talking about ₦80,000 to ₦84,000 per truck. Who pays? The consumer,” he said.
The allegation comes amid clashes between Dangote Group and NUPENG over the unionisation of drivers operating the company’s newly deployed 4,000 CNG-powered trucks. While NUPENG’s president, Williams Akporeha, neither confirmed nor denied the claim, he dismissed the figures with a cryptic remark: “₦50k now? No more ₦1 per litre?”
Industry experts have expressed concern, questioning the legality of unions imposing such fees. “Is NUPENG now a tax-collecting agency?” asked Professor Dayo Ayoade, an energy law specialist.
Dangote maintained that union membership must remain voluntary and insisted his company will not allow any group to “hold it hostage.” The move to launch an in-house CNG truck fleet, he said, is aimed at avoiding third-party pressures and cutting distribution costs.
Analysts warn that if true, such hidden charges act as an informal tax on consumers and worsen affordability at a time when fuel prices are already high due to forex and logistics pressures. They also urged government regulators to investigate and establish clear rules for truck loading charges.
