ADITOP Accuses NUPENG of Extortion, Excessive Levies on Tanker Owners....As PTD Lagos Zone Passes Vote of No Confidence on Union Leaders
The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has accused the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of extortion and imposition of excessive levies on tanker owners in the downstream sector.
The allegation came on the heels of a vote of no confidence passed on NUPENG’s National President, Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, by the Lagos Zone of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the union.
During an emergency meeting held on Monday, September 8, 2025, the PTD executives in Lagos cited greed, rascality, impunity, manipulation, highhandedness, and gross incompetence as reasons for their decision. The meeting also discussed rising tensions over Dangote Refinery and MRS Holdings Limited’s alleged resistance to unionizing drivers, alongside plans to deploy 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks across the country for petroleum distribution.
In a statement issued in Abuja, ADITOP distanced itself from the purported strike by NUPENG, stressing that the association was established to check the excesses of the union and its affiliates.
ADITOP National President, Alhaji Lawal Dan-Zaki, said the body had over the years petitioned various government agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, the National Security Adviser, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, over NUPENG’s alleged illegal activities.
According to him, NUPENG thrives on extortion while failing to remit taxes to the Federal Government.
“NUPENG, PTD, and other groups operating under its umbrella extort our members and depot owners one naira per litre of every product loaded in a depot. They also charge an additional one naira per litre on products loaded by marketers, in addition to loading fees ranging from ₦80,000 to ₦100,000 per truck.
This is outright extortion and economic sabotage,” Dan-Zaki alleged.
He added that ADITOP remains committed to sanitizing operations in the petroleum downstream sector and protecting its members from what it described as exploitative practices.
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