Christian group declares 14-day prayer, fasting over Dangote, NUPENG dispute

The Young Christian Fellowships in Nigeria Without Borders (YCFNB) says it will embark on a 14-day prayer and fasting campaign “to shield the Dangote Refinery from its enemies”.

The programme, scheduled for September 15 to 29, is targeted at the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike.

In a statement on Sunday, YCFNB accused the union of “reckless posturing” that could plunge the country into fuel scarcity and economic crisis.

The group said NUPENG’s stance amounts to sabotage against Aliko Dangote, who was described as “a patriot under siege” for resisting “powerful cabals benefiting from fuel importation”.

“Dangote’s refusal to yield has invited vilification, yet his resilience radiates integrity and national pride,” the statement reads.

YCFNB urged Christians nationwide to join daily prayers for “divine protection over the refinery”, which it hailed as a “beacon of hope” with its 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity.

The group also warned that should NUPENG proceed with its strike threat, “the masses will rise in outrage” against any attempt to trigger fuel scarcity.

“The refinery’s success, driven by Dangote’s steadfast commitment, offers a path to stability, yet NUPENG’s threats hint at a sinister intent to prioritise foreign interests over Nigerian welfare, with the potential rise in goods and service prices due to scarcity underscoring the economic stakes,” the statement reads.

BACKGROUND

The refinery and NUPENG have been locked in a dispute over workers’ right to unionise.

Earlier this month, the union accused Dangote Refinery of breaching a memorandum of understanding (MoU) brokered by the Department of State Services (DSS) and senior government officials, which recognised employees’ freedom to join unions.

NUPENG alleged that truck drivers who had been members of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch were ordered to remove union stickers from their vehicles — an action it described as anti-labour.

The union subsequently threatened to resume a nationwide strike, warning that it had placed members on “red alert”.

Dangote, however, denied the accusations, insisting that it is not opposed to unionisation and that workers are free to join recognised trade unions.

The company also rejected claims of monopolistic practices in the oil and gas sector, saying more than 30 refinery licences have been issued to private players in Nigeria.

NUPENG says any breach of the agreement risks fuelling fresh industrial unrest, while stakeholders fear that a strike could disrupt fuel supply and trigger another round of scarcity.