PETROAN To Begins Strike Tuesday Over Alleged Oil & Gas Sector Monopoly
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria has issued a three-day warning of suspension of lifting and dispensing petroleum products, beginning Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
The move is in protest against alleged monopolistic practices in the downstream oil sector.
The association’s National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Obele, in Abuja.
Harry explained that the planned action would be lawful and peaceful, stressing PETROAN’s commitment to fair competition, workers’ rights, and price stability in the petroleum sector.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, the Director-General of DSS, and the Inspector-General of Police to urgently intervene in the crisis to prevent hardship for citizens.
Highlighting the implications of the planned strike, Harry noted that pump attendants in PETROAN member stations are registered under NUPENG, meaning they would not be at work during the action. He directed station owners not to discipline or dismiss attendants affected.
PETROAN also warned against monopolistic tendencies, cautioning that the aggressive strategies of Dangote Refinery could force private depot owners, modular refinery operators, marketers, and truck owners out of business. Harry said such a scenario could spark mass unemployment with serious economic consequences.
He added, “Nigerians should view any initial strategy aimed at gaining monopoly as a Father Christmas promise and should not forget the events that unfolded in the cement industry.”
He further urged Nigerians to be vigilant and not be carried away by short-term promises that may bring long-term negative consequences.
In efforts to resolve the crisis, PETROAN convened an emergency ordinary national general meeting where it resolved to hold consultations on Sunday and Monday.
The statement noted that if no fruitful outcome is achieved, PETROAN Congress agreed that no employee would be sacked for participating in the action at retail outlets nationwide from early Tuesday.
To enforce compliance, the association said a 120-man compliance team would be deployed to act as watchdogs and ensure the safety of members’ facilities.
As a critical player in the sector, PETROAN pledged to work with other stakeholders to maintain healthy competition in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The association said such collaboration would foster sectoral growth, protect workers, and ultimately benefit the economy.
PETROAN To Begins Strike Tuesday Over Alleged Oil & Gas Sector Monopoly is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
