The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has thrown its weight behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the brewing conflict with Dangote Refinery, warning of a possible shutdown in fuel distribution nationwide.

NUPENG had earlier directed its members to halt operations beginning Monday, September 8, accusing Dangote Refinery of unfair labour practices and moves that threaten its members’ jobs.

At the centre of the dispute is Dangote’s plan to introduce 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks into the market. According to the unions, the move is designed to edge out existing petroleum truck drivers who belong to NUPENG and are largely managed by independent operators under NARTO.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NARTO President, Yusuf Lawal Othman, described Dangote’s approach as an attempt to monopolise the downstream oil sector while undermining thousands of transporters whose operations form a critical link in Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain.

He noted that NARTO members collectively run more than 30,000 trucks across the country, employing tens of thousands of workers and sustaining millions of dependents. These businesses, he added, are backed by heavy financial commitments from banks, marketers, and depot owners.

“This initiative is unsustainable and amounts to eliminating independent operators who have kept petroleum distribution running for decades,” Othman stressed.

The association urged the federal government, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Dangote Group to convene an urgent dialogue among stakeholders. Such talks, it said, should focus on ensuring fair competition, protecting jobs, and safeguarding national security.

NARTO reaffirmed its “total solidarity” with NUPENG, clarifying that its resistance is not against investment but against policies that could destabilise the transport and distribution sector.