Edible oil tanker drivers have threatened to withdraw their services from Tuesday, September 22, over an 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) said it would commence the industrial action if the dispute over union jurisdiction and alleged harassment of its members is not resolved.
The union’s General Secretary, Tajudeen Usman, who spoke on behalf of its President, Ilias Aperun, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos.
Usman said the union had repeatedly sought the intervention of government agencies and security authorities over what it described as interference in its operations, but the matter remained unresolved.
He alleged that the PTD branch of NUPENG had encroached on the union’s jurisdiction and disrupted the activities of its members.
“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 also alleged that the Amalgamated Union of Wharf Truck Owners of Nigeria (AUTOWN) was operating in the sector through the Wharf 302 Products and Beverages Association.
The union said it had approached the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Health, security agencies and other regulatory authorities over the dispute.
The planned action could affect the movement of edible oil from refineries and depots to distributors if the disagreement is not resolved before the deadline.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has consequently called for government intervention to prevent the dispute from escalating.
The NLC Lagos Vice Chairman, Olabisi Idowu, called for a meeting involving the Federal and Lagos State governments, security agencies and the unions involved.
Idowu also urged the authorities to clarify the jurisdiction of the different unions through the Register of Trade Unions.
“We will not sit down and allow anybody to create any crisis, especially in Lagos,” he said.
The dispute also comes against the backdrop of growing regulatory attention on how edible oil is transported.
In May, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency reached an agreement with stakeholders in the edible oil sector requiring the use of food-grade certified tankers for the transportation of edible oil.
The arrangement followed concerns over hygiene, safety, traceability and the use of tankers previously deployed for petroleum products.
NUEOTDN is now calling for dedicated tankers for edible oil, arguing that the use of vehicles previously used for petroleum products raises food-safety concerns.
The Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association of Nigeria also backed the position, with its representatives alleging interference with the activities of edible oil tanker operators at refineries and depots.
The association’s Vice President, Victoria Oke, said edible oil tanker operators were distinct from NUPENG because their members transport food products rather than petroleum products.
The threatened strike comes as authorities and industry stakeholders are also dealing with wider concerns around 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 unregistered and substandard edible oils, saying such products could pose public health risks.
For now, the immediate issue is the union dispute and whether government intervention can prevent the planned September 22 shutdown.
NUEOTDN said it would proceed with the industrial action if its concerns over jurisdiction, alleged interference and the transportation of edible oil are not addressed.