Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to intervene and address the allegation that the owner of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote is planning to force newly hired drivers to sign contracts that restrain them from joining established unions within the oil and gas sector.

Recall that the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers,

NUPENG, on Friday, announced that its members would stop work and start looking for alternative employment beginning from September 8.

NUPENG maintained that the action was a direct reaction to the allegation that Dangote Refinery was making frantic efforts to restrain its Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, tanker drivers from affiliating with labour unions.

Meanwhile, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association, DTCDA, have both said that they would not participate in the strike organized by NUPENG.

Reacting, Falana stated that the Dangote Group’s policy contravenes Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, amongst others.

The senior lawyer also said that the policy breaches several international agreements Nigeria has ratified.

The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers had directed its large members in the oil and gas industry to embark on indefinite strike on Monday, September 9, 2025.

The strike is a protest against the plan of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to force newly recruited drivers to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the oil and gas industry in the country.

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Another petroleum tanker explosion occurred at Gujungu town in Taura Local Government of Jigawa State.

Eyewitness said that the incident happened on Sunday night when the tanker was about uploading the fuel in a filling station.

He said security personnel cordoned the area and residents and road users were prevented from getting access to the scene.

He said no casualty was recorded but properties worth billions of Naira were destroyed.

Police Spokesman, SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed the incident. He said police will issue an official statement after investigation.

It was observed that the incident happened kilometres away from Majia town, where the previous incident occurred that killed over 100 persons.

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The Israeli army on Sunday issued a fresh evacuation order for residents of the Al-Roya Tower in Gaza City, warning that the building would soon be targeted over alleged Hamas activities.

Army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, in a statement today, said the building was being targeted due to the alleged presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or nearby.

“The (army) will strike the building soon due to the presence of Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or nearby,” Adraee said.

It was reports that it was the second time in two days that the Israeli military had issued a warning over the tower.

On Saturday, a similar order was given, though the building was not struck.

“For your safety, you must evacuate the building immediately and move south toward the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi,” AFP quoted the spokesman as adding, referring to an area in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.

The new order follows the demolition of two other high-rise residential buildings in Gaza earlier this week. The Israeli military said the flattened towers were being used by Hamas to “monitor” troop movements, a claim Hamas has rejected.

The evacuation order came as Israeli forces pushed further into Gaza City.

“We are deepening the manoeuvre on the outskirts of Gaza City and within Gaza City itself,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

It was reports that although Israel has not officially declared the start of a major offensive to seize Gaza City, its military operations and bombings in the area have intensified in recent weeks.

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