By Ayomide Otitoju
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 imposing excessive levies on operators in the downstream oil sector.
The allegation follows 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. The PTD zonal executives, in an emergency meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, accused the leadership of greed, impunity, highhandedness, and gross incompetence. The development comes amid rising tensions over Dangote Refinery and MRS Holdings Limited’s alleged resistance to the unionisation of drivers and the rollout of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide fuel distribution.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, ADITOP National President, Alhaji Lawal Dan-zaki, distanced the association from the purported strike action by NUPENG, stressing that ADITOP was established to check what it described as the excesses of NUPENG, PTD, and illegal levy collectors operating under their umbrella.
Dan-zaki disclosed that over the past five years, ADITOP had submitted multiple petitions to government agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, Department of State Services (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, alleging extortion and other illegal practices by NUPENG.
According to him, NUPENG has continued to feed off illegal levies while failing to remit taxes to the Federal Government.
“NUPENG, PTD, and other affiliated groups extort ADITOP members and depot owners one naira per litre of every petroleum product loaded at depots. In addition, they collect another one naira per litre from marketers, alongside loading charges ranging from ₦80,000 to ₦100,000 per truck,” Dan-zaki said.
He described the practice as “outright extortion and economic sabotage,” calling for urgent intervention from relevant authorities.
