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Commuters and motorists in Rivers State were stranded at bus stops and petrol stations on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, as the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) joined the ongoing nationwide strike action.
Commuters were seen trekking, as fares on some routes jumped by 25% to 30%. By evening, most routes in the city had seen an almost 50% hike in prices.
Commercial drivers, who could not buy fuel before the strike commenced, were forced to take their vehicles off the road, forming queues in front of filling stations that were already closed.
Read also: NUPENG strike continues as Dangote, Labour shun talks
According to a commercial driver, “The strike took us by surprise. We did not expect that they would go on strike. If it continues beyond today, the situation will be unbearable for us.”
Our correspondent gathered that consumers of petroleum products have resorted to the black market to meet their needs. One litre of fuel at the black market reportedly now sells for N1,500 to N2,000, as against the previous price of N1,000 per litre.
The Rivers State chapters of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had joined NUPENG, and their colleagues across the country in the strike which began on Mon, September 8, 2025.
NUPENG had on Friday announced that it would begin an industrial action on September 8, 2025, as a result of anti-union practices at the Dangote Refinery.
In a statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG accused Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices that threatened the livelihoods of members of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch.
Read also: PENGASSAN backs NUPENG on industrial action
The union lamented that the refinery’s owner, Aliko Dangote, had insisted that new drivers for its new CNG trucks would not be allowed to join any union.
They described the decision as an affront to freedom of association guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and a breach of international labour conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
