Some petrol stations in Port Harcourt City have started returning to business following the suspension of the strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). A recent survey conducted around the Port Harcourt metropolis showed that many petrol stations were open for business today, September 10, 2025.
Recall that NUPENG had ordered its members to embark on a strike over alleged anti-labour practices by Dangote Refinery.
Accusing the firm of hiring non-affiliated drivers, NUPENG maintained that Dangote Group was planning to render its members jobless.
Reacting to the suspension of the strike after Dangote’s company agreed to the unionisation of its drivers, some petrol station managers confirmed that the reopening of their business outlets followed a directive from their union.
At a popular filling station along Eleme Road, an anonymous manager revealed that the staff victimisation due to union membership must be addressed as soon as possible.
“We are believing that all the issues raised have been given the right attention, this will ensure stability and harmony,” the manager said.
This comes after Mr. Billy Harry, the National President of the Petrol Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, issued a statement on Tuesday, appealing to members to suspend the strike.
According to him, the decision to end the strike was made after rigorous negotiations between NUPENG and Dangote Refinery.
“Based on the resolutions reached during the negotiations, we have to give a fresh directive to our members to open for business,” Harry said.
Describing the suspension of the strike as a welcome development, Mr Ekene Kamsi, a commercial taxi driver, disclosed that the price of petrol increased unimaginably while the strike was ongoing.
The driver concluded by hoping that normalcy would return now that the avoidable dispute has been resolved.
“We bought petrol at N1,800 per litre from roadside sellers.
With the suspension of the strike, we are hopeful that normalcy will return, we cannot afford further difficulties, we already have too many issues to grapple with,” Ekene added.
