Filling station owners under the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) have announced plans to suspend the lifting and dispensing of petroleum products for three days, starting Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The announcement, made by PETROAN National President Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry and signed by National PRO Dr. Joseph Obele, was delivered during a nationwide briefing in Abuja on Saturday.
The planned suspension aligns with the proposed strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over disputes with Dangote Refinery and concerns about members’ job security.
According to Obele, the suspension is part of PETROAN’s advocacy for healthy competition in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. Gillis-Harry stressed that both PETROAN and NUPENG’s actions would be lawful and peaceful, aimed at resisting monopoly tendencies that could destabilize the industry.
He warned that Dangote Refinery’s aggressive market entry strategies could force out private depot owners, modular refineries, marketers, retail owners, and truck operators, triggering mass unemployment with dire consequences for the economy.
“Any initial strategy aimed at gaining monopoly should be seen as a ‘Father Christmas’ promise. Nigerians must not forget the events in the cement industry,” Gillis-Harry cautioned.
PETROAN called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), the NNPC GCEO, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, the DG of DSS, and the IGP to urgently intervene to avert hardship for citizens.
The association appealed for dialogue that ensures stability in pricing, smooth operations, and long-term competitiveness in the sector.
Gillis-Harry further clarified that pump attendants in PETROAN member filling stations are registered members of NUPENG, meaning they will also join the strike.
He instructed filling station owners not to discipline or sack attendants absent during the industrial action. To enforce compliance, PETROAN will deploy a 120-man monitoring team to safeguard facilities and workers’ rights nationwide.
The development follows a similar announcement by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, which on Saturday declared plans to shut down operations from Monday, September 8, 2025.
IPMAN Chairman, Chief Oyewole Akanni, said Dangote Refinery and MRS Energy’s direct entry into petrol distribution threatens the survival of IPMAN members, who operate over 4,000 trucks. He argued the move violates the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which bars refiners from directly distributing products.
PETROAN held an emergency general meeting and resolved to hold consultations through Sunday and Monday. If no resolution is reached, the three-day shutdown will commence at dawn on Tuesday.
“PETROAN remains committed to ensuring healthy competition in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This is not just about business survival—it’s about protecting jobs, stabilizing pricing, and safeguarding the economy,” Gillis-Harry stated.
