Di National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) don threaten to embark on strike over di growing use of petroleum tankers to transport edible oil. Di union warn say residue from such tankers dey expose consumers to toxic chemicals, DNA damage, organ failure, and cancer risk.
For one statement by im President, Ilias Aperun, di union demand urgent Federal Government intervention to protect Nigeria’s edible oil supply chain. E also accuse di Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG of persistent jurisdictional encroachment.
Aperun say, ‘This poses a serious concern to food safety, public health, consumer protection, and the integrity of Nigeria’s edible oil supply chain.’ He note say NUEOTDN members dey use dedicated leaf-green and tomato-red tankers wey dem design solely for food-grade products.
Di union call on di Federal Government, NAFDAC, di Ministries of Health and Labour, and di Nigeria Labour Congress to address di contamination risk. It stress say a tanker wey dem previously use for petroleum ‘poses severe contamination risks if deployed for food-grade products without appropriate, verifiable, and food-safety-compliant cleaning processes.’
Aperun say NUEOTDN no oppose lawful regulation or inspection, but e warn against regulation being used for ‘harassment, economic exclusion, or di forced conversion of food-grade tanker operators.’ He add say members dey undergo regular FRSC ‘safe-to-load’ training and hygiene education from NAFDAC and LASCOPA.
A conciliation process led by Mr. Amos Falonipe of di Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment earlier bring NUEOTDN and NUPENG leadership together on September 1 at NUPENG’s Lagos headquarters, but e yield no resolution.
Aperun say di matter further complicated by di involvement of di Amalgamated Union of Wharf Truck Owners (AUTOWN), warning say ‘di continued interference of NUPENG (PTD) with our members’ legitimate operations is no longer sustainable.’
Di union also say petroleum products and edible oils na fundamentally different commodities and dem suppose transport dem in appropriately dedicated systems to safeguard consumers. According to Aperun, ‘A tanker previously used for petroleum products may pose serious contamination and hygiene concerns if it is subsequently deployed to carry food-grade products without an appropriate, verifiable and food-safety-compliant cleaning and conversion process.’
NUEOTDN stress say e no oppose regulation, inspection or enforcement, but e urge authorities make sure such measures no result in jurisdictional conflicts or undermine operators wey don invest in dedicated food-grade transportation equipment. Di union say im members transport edible oil and other food-grade products in dedicated tankers, identified by im registered trademark colours of leaf-green and tomato-red.
Aperun add say, ‘Our members and operators have invested heavily in dedicated tankers and hygiene equipment for di edible-oil industry.’ He say drivers don undergo safe-to-load training with di Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and safety and hygiene education from regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and di Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA).
On di dispute with NUPENG, di union say di matter over operational jurisdiction don be subject of conciliation process wey di Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment initiate through di Director of Trade Unions and Industrial Relations, Amos Falonipe. E say following a conciliation meeting on August 17, 2026, im leadership meet with NUPENG officials, including di union’s leadership and di PTD Lagos Zonal Chairman, Saheed Adigun Omogbolahan, on September 1 in Lagos. NUEOTDN say di meeting fail to produce a meaningful resolution, adding say di involvement of di Amalgamated Union of Wharf Truck Owners (AUTOWN) don further complicate di dispute.
Di union maintain say NUPENG (PTD) and AUTOWN suppose operate within dia respective jurisdictions and refrain from interfering with di operations of edible-oil tanker operators.
Among im demands, NUEOTDN want di government to clearly define di jurisdictional boundaries of NUPENG (PTD), NUEOTDN and AUTOWN. E also dey call for establishment and enforcement of national standards distinguishing food-grade tankers from petroleum-product tankers, including di activation and enforcement of NUEOTDN’s registered tanker identification system. Di union further want authorities to ensure say tankers wey dem use for petroleum products no go subsequently deploy to transport edible oil unless dem meet all applicable food-safety requirements.
NUEOTDN say e don formally notify di Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment of im intention to embark on total shutdown from September 22, 2026, if dem no resolve di dispute. Di union say di proposed industrial action go be peaceful and lawful, with emergency and essential services respected.
Aperun say, ‘We do not want a disruption of di nation’s edible-oil supply chain. But we cannot continue to watch silently while NUPENG (PTD) continues to endanger di lives of Nigerians. Di time for decisive intervention is now.’
Di union urge di Federal Government and relevant regulatory and labour authorities to intervene before di proposed industrial action begins, warning say failure to resolve di dispute fit get implications for di nation’s edible-oil supply chain.
