Nigeria’s edible oil tanker drivers have threatened to commence industrial action from September 22 over alleged interference in their operations by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) issued the warning at a news conference in Lagos, with its General Secretary, Tajudeen Usman, saying the dispute over union jurisdiction and alleged interference had remained unresolved despite several attempts at intervention.
Usman, who spoke on behalf of the union’s President, Ilias Aperun, said the proposed strike could disrupt the transportation and distribution of edible oil nationwide if the matter was not resolved before the deadline.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Usman alleged that the PTD branch of NUPENG had encroached on NUEOTDN’s jurisdiction, harassed its members and disrupted its activities.
He also alleged that the Amalgamated Union of Wharf Truck Owners of Nigeria (AUTOWN), through the Wharf 302 Products and Beverages Association, was operating within the edible oil transportation sector.
“Our objective is to protect the legitimate interests of our members and ensure that the transportation of edible oil and food-grade products is carried out in an orderly, safe, hygienic and lawful environment,” Usman said.
NUEOTDN said it had sought the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Health, security agencies and other regulatory authorities, but the dispute had yet to be resolved.
The union also called for the exclusive use of dedicated tankers for edible oil, arguing that the use of vehicles previously deployed to transport petroleum products posed potential food-safety and hygiene concerns.
It warned that failure to address its demands would lead to industrial action from midnight on September 22.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has urged the Federal Government to intervene urgently to prevent the dispute from escalating into an industrial crisis.
The NLC Lagos Vice Chairman, Olabisi Idowu, called for a meeting involving the Federal and Lagos State governments, security agencies and representatives of the unions involved.
Idowu also urged the authorities to clearly define the jurisdictions of the various unions through the Register of Trade Unions in order to prevent recurring conflicts.
He appealed to NUPENG leadership to address the concerns raised by NUEOTDN and prevent a dispute that could threaten industrial peace in Lagos.
“We will not sit down and allow anybody to create any crisis, especially in Lagos,” he said.
The President of the Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association of Nigeria, Labaran Sidi, also alleged interference with the activities of members at refineries and depots.
The association’s Vice President, Victoria Oke, maintained that edible oil tanker operators were distinct from NUPENG because their members transported food products rather than petroleum products.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of tighter regulation of edible oil transportation in Lagos. In May, the Lagos State Government moved to prohibit the use of petroleum tankers in the edible oil distribution chain as part of measures aimed at improving transportation safety, hygiene and regulatory compliance.
The policy followed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency and stakeholders, including the Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association of Nigeria (MASEON), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers under ETD/NUEOTDN.
Under the agreement, stakeholders are required to use food-grade certified tankers for edible oil transportation, alongside improved hygiene, traceability and operational standards. The regulatory measures provide further context to NUEOTDN’s demand for dedicated edible oil tankers.
The threatened industrial action also comes amid continuing concerns over the safety and quality of edible oil products in the Nigerian market.
In December 2025, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) warned against the circulation of substandard and unregistered edible oils.
The agency said some products lacked identifiable manufacturers or NAFDAC registration numbers and warned that the consumption of unregistered or substandard edible oils could pose public health risks.
The concerns have underscored the importance of maintaining appropriate safety and hygiene standards throughout the edible oil supply chain, from transportation and storage to distribution and retail.
With the September 22 strike deadline approaching, stakeholders are now urging the government and the unions to resolve the jurisdictional dispute before it affects the movement of edible oil and potentially disrupts supplies to consumers.
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