Petrol station workers across Nigeria have raised concerns over plans by AA Rano to introduce fully automated and unmanned fuel stations, warning that the move could worsen unemployment and insecurity if not carefully managed.

The workers, operating under the banner of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers, said the proposed 24-hour self-service stations could lead to widespread job losses, especially among young Nigerians who rely on fuel station jobs for survival.

AA Rano recently announced that it would begin rolling out the automated stations this month. According to the company, the outlets will operate without pump attendants, using contactless payment systems, automated fuel dispensers, and real-time monitoring technology.

Reacting to the announcement, the group’s convener and labour rights advocate, Ibrahim Zango, described the plan as ill-timed, given Nigeria’s economic situation. He said the country was already battling high unemployment, rising living costs, and growing insecurity.

Zango warned that removing human attendants from fuel stations without clear alternatives could push many families into hardship. He noted that thousands of workers across AA Rano’s stations depend on the jobs to meet basic needs.

He added that many attendants have spent years, and in some cases decades, working in the sector and should not be displaced without a clear transition or support plan.

While acknowledging the importance of technological progress, Zango stressed that innovation should not come at the expense of workers’ welfare. He argued that automation in the downstream petroleum sector should be designed to create new roles and opportunities rather than eliminate existing ones.

The workers’ group called on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to urgently put policies in place that balance technological advancement with labour protection. They also appealed to AA Rano’s management to engage in dialogue with workers and regulators before implementing the project.

Zango urged the company to consider its social responsibility, noting that many business leaders, including AA Rano’s founder, once started from modest beginnings.

He warned that pushing workers out of their jobs in the name of innovation could deepen Nigeria’s social and economic challenges.