The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused Sayyu Dantata, half-brother of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and owner of MS Group, of calling in the Nigerian Navy to intimidate its members.

In a statement released on Thursday, NUPENG’s National President, Williams Akporeha, alleged that Dantata used military force against union members in defiance of a peace resolution earlier brokered by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and the Department of State Security (DSS).

According to the union, Dantata reportedly ordered long-time members of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit to strip their vehicles of NUPENG stickers — an act the union described as a direct violation of the agreement reached with Dangote Group and its associates.

“Sayyu Dantata flew over them several times with his helicopter and then called the Navy of the Federal Republic to come over ostensibly to crush the Union officials. Our members are waiting for him and his agents to run them over,” the statement read.

 

NUPENG further issued a red alert to its members and affiliate unions, warning of a fresh strike if what it called “anti-labour practices” persist.

Recall that the union had only recently suspended a strike that began on Monday in protest against the Dangote Group’s alleged unfair labour practices.