Dangote Group has obtained a court order in its ongoing dispute with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD).
On Wednesday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued a temporary injunction barring the unions from blocking roads or shutting down operations at Dangote Refinery.
The ruling was delivered by Justice E.D. Subilim after Dangote Refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim, SAN, filed an ex-parte motion alongside originating processes and a motion on notice dated September 15, 2025.
Justice Subilim ruled, “An interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 2nd Defendant/Respondent, its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns, or whatsoever and howsoever called from joining, continuing, further embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action declared by the Defendant/Respondent or any other strike whatsoever against the Claimants/Applicants with a view to frustrating their businesses and operations pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
The order will remain in effect for seven days.
The dispute between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery has dominated public discussion in recent weeks. NUPENG and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) have accused Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices and attempts to stifle competition, allegations Aliko Dangote has publicly denied.
Earlier on September 8, 2025, NUPENG and its affiliates halted fuel distribution nationwide before the Federal Government stepped in. Following the collapse of talks between the parties, NUPENG had threatened to launch another strike before the court’s intervention.
