Why I support Dangote in feud against NUPENG, by Ibrahim Adejare

I don’t always support Dangote on issue bothering around Nigeria’s economy, but on this Dangote/NUPENG face-off, I am 100% in support of Dangote. NUPENG’s time is up.

Their hegemonic grip on Nigerian masses is over. NUPENG’s crass impunity and recklessness have come to a screeching end. That’s the reality steering them in the face.

Let us first give kudos to the Tinubu administration on the ongoing economic reforms. We are gradually getting it right in Nigeria. The oil and gas sector, in Nigeria, for a long time, has been shrouded in utter secrecy. Some people are milking us dry.

NUPENG and members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have taken the masses for a ride too much. We can’t just continue this way. We cannot keep doing the same thing at different times and expect different results.

This current crisis is a battle for the fragile soul of Nigeria, especially in the oil and gas sector. NUPENG cannot hold us to ransom anymore. Every step must be taken to stop them.

Some Nigerians are in the dark about this issue. Let me just spell it out for our people. Last month, Dangote imported about four thousand CNG-powered trucks into Nigeria for easy distributions of his refined products.

First, CNG is cheaper, compared to diesel. Second, the CNG, that will power the trucks, will be supplied by Dangote Refinery. It will be at a much-reduced price.

Therefore, the cost of transporting petroleum products, directly, to our filling stations will be cheaper. Union charges and other exploitative costs would have been cut off.

This will have soothing effects on the prices of petrol, diesel and others. If I may ask: what is NUPENG’s fuss about this? I tag their reactions as meddlesomeness.

Dangote Refinery is a private entity. He has every right to buy trucks and use them for easy distribution of his products. The drivers that will drive these trucks have freedom of association, either to join NUPENG/PTD or not. No one can force them. They are Nigerians, not foreigners.

If PTD, under umbrella of NUPENG, wants to be eternally relevant, they should mount pressure on the NNPCL to make our refineries functional. That is the only way-out of this conundrum. Ire o 👏