The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has suspended its two-day strike following a meeting with the Dangote Group on Tuesday.

The National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, confirmed this to our correspondent.

According to him, the Dangote refinery team led by Sayyu Dantata, agreed to unionise its drivers.

He said the meeting was summoned by the Department of State Services.

“We have suspended the strike. The Dangote refinery has agreed to unionise its drivers. We signed an agreement,” Akporeha said in a telephone conversation.

It was reported that petroleum tanker drivers on Monday made good their threat to shun fuel loading due to the crisis between them and the Dangote refinery as a result of the unionisation of tanker drivers.

This was despite an appeal by the Federal Government that they shelve the plan.

In some parts of the country, filling stations were also closed by NUPENG members. The Aradel refinery in Obele, Port Harcourt, was shut. The Kwale Hydrocarbon facility in Delta State was shut.

NUPENG had on Friday declared its intention to stop loading fuel this week over allegations that the Dangote refinery planned to ban the drivers recruited for its 4,000 trucks from joining the union.

NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, on Sunday confirmed that the Federal Government had reached out to the union on the need to avert the strike. He, however, insisted that the industrial action would go ahead.

As of Monday morning, it was gathered that there was full compliance with the directive that no driver should lift fuel. Checks by one of our correspondents confirmed that activities at petroleum depots were paralysed across the country.

NUPENG officials visited the depots to enforce compliance.

In various depots across the country, especially those in Lagos and Warri, Delta State, drivers parked their trucks to wait for the next directive as far as fuel lifting was concerned.

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has summoned 13 domestic airlines to an emergency meeting over the growing number of flight delays, cancellations and affecting passengers across the country.

The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, was confirmed by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via his X handle on Tuesday.

This intervention comes amid rising complaints from air travelers and a series of incidents involving unruly passenger behavior at airports, a trend NCAA attributes partly to poor airline adherence to aviation rules.

In recent times, violent acts have become prominent in Nigerian airport incidents that were caused by different reasons.

While some unruly behaviours were caused by passengers’ ignorance of aviation rules, some were a result of airlines’ deliberate moves to circumvent regulations and deprive passengers of their rights.

Achimugu disclosed that the meeting would address a range of critical issues, including persistent flight delays and cancellations, Passenger handling protocols and welfare obligations, unresolved refund and compensation complaints, enforcement of safety measures like the phone switch-off directive, protection for cabin crew and NCAA officials, and the Introduction of RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring technology.

This comes barely 24 hours after the NCAA emphasised that airlines must uphold the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, particularly Part 19, which outlines specific obligations to passengers in the event of delays or cancellations, including providing hotel accommodations for stranded travelers between 10:00pm and 4:00am.

The regulatory body stated its readiness to begin “naming and shaming” airlines that consistently flout aviation rules particularly those that delay or cancel flights without due process or passenger support.

Achimugu noted that airlines cancel flights late at night without making provisions for passenger welfare, leaving NCAA consumer protection officers to manage agitated travelers. This, he said, exposes officials to unnecessary risk.

He warned that the era of leniency is over, stating, “For infractions that are sanctionable, the Authority will apply the fullest measures possible. We will not abandon the letters of our regulations.”

Achimugu, however, reiterated that while the NCAA acknowledges the challenges faced by domestic carriers, operators must meet the expected standards if they wish to be regarded as world-class.

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A survivor of the 2014 Chibok school abduction by dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, Mary Katambi, has emerged winner of the Sought After School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SASIE) Idea to Venture pitch finale with her startup, Kaiki, an online marketplace for sustainable fashion and household items.

Katambi, who turned her harrowing past into a story of innovation, said her mission was to use Kaiki to promote recycling and sustainable living while empowering communities.

Speaking after her win, Katambi expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting that the programme had given her the tools and confidence to transform her vision into a business.

Also recognised at the event was Dr. Irene Udebuana, founder of Robotprof, a climate-tech education initiative equipping children aged 7–16 with skills in coding, robotics, and green technology. The initiative aims to prepare the next generation for a more sustainable future.

Founder of SASIE, Dr. Jennifer D. Daniel, praised the winners as examples of the powerful role women are playing in Africa’s technology and innovation ecosystem.

“Mary and Irene embody exactly why SASIE exists: to unlock bold ideas and build powerful women-led ventures across the continent,” Daniel said.

The two winners will each receive a founder’s grant, mentorship, and the opportunity to apply as pioneer ventures to the Eunoia VC incubator. They will also gain media exposure, including a feature on Women Radio 91.7’s Startup Sisi programme.

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