Delta Fuel Shutdown: IPMAN and NUPENG Enforce Strike, ₦1m Fine for Defaulters
Delta State has been hit by fuel scarcity as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) launched an indefinite strike on Monday.
All filling stations across the state have been ordered to close, with the unions warning that any operator who defies the directive will face a ₦1 million fine.
Strike Resolution from Emergency Meeting
The strike decision followed an emergency meeting on September 6, where both unions agreed to act in solidarity with ongoing nationwide labour disputes. By 6 a.m. on September 8, filling stations across the state were locked, disrupting supply chains and fuelling panic buying.
“Any station found wanting will pay a fine of ₦1 million. Injury to one is injury to all,” the circular read.
Ripple Effects Beyond Delta
The shutdown is expected to spread beyond Delta as marketers in other South-South states may follow suit. Petroleum marketers across the region often move in solidarity, raising fears of a wider scarcity.
Already, commuters in Warri and Asaba have reported transport fare hikes, while long queues were spotted at a handful of independent stations that had not yet shut down.
Part of Nationwide Labour Standoff
The strike adds another layer to the broader showdown between organised labour and Dangote Group, which has drawn in NUPENG, PENGASSAN, TUC, and even ITUC-Africa. The dispute threatens Nigeria’s already fragile fuel supply chain, risking nationwide scarcity and inflation spikes.
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