Business
BREAKING: Bank customers to pay N6 per SMS transaction alert starting tomorrow

Commercial banks in Nigeria, including Guaranty Trust Bank customers will commence payment of N6 for every SMS transaction alert starting tomorrow.
This is coming on the heels of the increase in telecommunications rates by telecommunications providers following a nod by the federal government.
The SMS charges were increased by 50% to N6 from the previous N4 per message.
Various banks had sent emails to their customers to inform them of the current change.
An email from Guaranty Trust Bank Limited with the heading “Increase in SMS Transaction Alert Fee” read:
“Dear Valued Customer, Please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from N4 to N6 per message.
This adjustment is due to a recent increase in telecom rates as communicated by the telecommunication service providers.
“Kindly note that transaction alerts are important and help you keep track and stay in control of activities on your account.
“SMS alerts to international phone numbers are subject to higher charges.”
Business
Tanker Owners Accuse NUPENG of Extortion, Excessive Levies

… As PTD Passes Vote of No Confidence on NUPENG Leaders
The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has levelled serious allegations against the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), accusing it of extortion and excessive levy collections within the downstream petroleum sector.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawal Dan-zaki, strongly dissociated the association from the purported strike action by NUPENG, declaring that ADITOP was originally established to counter what he described as the “excesses” of NUPENG, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), and other groups allegedly collecting illegal levies under NUPENG’s cover.
Dan-zaki alleged that for the past five years, ADITOP had submitted several petitions to top government agencies—including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation—accusing NUPENG of extortion and illegal financial practices.
According to him, NUPENG and its affiliates impose unauthorized levies on petroleum product distributors, including a charge of ₦1 per litre on every product loaded at depots, and an additional ₦1 per litre by marketers, alongside loading fees ranging between ₦80,000 and ₦100,000 per truck.
“This is outright extortion and economic sabotage by NUPENG, PTD, and their affiliated unions and associations,” Dan-zaki stated.
The allegations surfaced just days after the Lagos Zone of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG passed a vote of no confidence on the union’s national leadership. The vote targeted NUPENG National President, Comrade (Prince) Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, accusing them of “greed, impunity, manipulation, and gross incompetence.”
The internal dissent follows rising tensions over reported resistance by Dangote Refinery and MRS Holdings Limited to unionize their drivers and the rollout of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide fuel distribution.
Dan-zaki concluded that while NUPENG continues to feed off these alleged illegal levies, it remits no tax revenue to the federal government, further exacerbating challenges in the downstream sector.
Business
UPDATE: NUPENG Skips Meeting to Resolve Dispute with Dangote in Abuja

The leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) failed to attend a crucial Federal Government meeting aimed at resolving its dispute with the Dangote Group, as tensions escalate over a planned nationwide strike by oil workers.
The meeting, called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, was set for 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. However, by 2:30 p.m., the meeting had yet to start due to the absence of NUPENG representatives.
On Sunday, the Federal Government appealed to NUPENG to postpone the industrial action, assuring that it had intervened in the dispute. It also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to withdraw its “red alert” issued to affiliate unions preparing for a solidarity strike.
An insider noted that even if NUPENG plans to attend the meeting, it won’t be immediate. “They can’t be expected to fly into Abuja and rush into talks the same day. Consultations with NLC leadership and others need to happen first,” the source explained.
The core of the conflict centers on the Dangote Group’s alleged anti-union policy, which NUPENG claims violates workers’ rights. The union insists that no oil worker will be allowed to work at Dangote without union membership, accusing the company of an “anti-worker and anti-union” stance aimed at exploiting refinery employees.
NUPENG officials were still in Lagos on Monday afternoon, coordinating the strike effort. “You don’t wait until a strike is declared before calling for talks,” one union source said, criticizing the government’s delayed response. “The union gave sufficient notice, but the ministry only acted after tensions rose.”
Meanwhile, while journalists awaited the start of the NUPENG meeting, Minister Dingyadi held a separate closed-door session with representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The government has yet to announce a new meeting date or confirm if NUPENG will participate at a later time.
Business
UPDATE: NUPENG Accuses Dangote Refinery of Fuel Sector Monopoly, Warns of Massive Job Losses

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), representing Petroleum and Tanker Drivers (PTD), has condemned Dangote Refinery’s decision to deploy 10,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tankers for petroleum product distribution, calling it a monopoly that threatens the livelihood of thousands of workers in the sector.
NUPENG described the move as anti-labour and harmful to PTD members, highlighting that drivers recruited by Dangote for these operations are reportedly barred from joining any trade union. The union warned this action violates both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and international labour laws.
Speaking anonymously, some tanker drivers expressed concerns to journalists that unless the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority intervenes swiftly, the situation could escalate and seriously damage the Nigerian economy, affecting millions of livelihoods.
The tanker drivers outlined several looming risks including:
- Loss of income for tanker owners and their families
- Unemployment for drivers, motor boys, and support staff
- Job losses for truck mechanics, painters, welders, and fabricators
- Decline in business for spare parts dealers, tyre and battery sellers
- Negative impact on depot representatives, artisans, and food vendors
- Financial ruin for transporters who have invested heavily in the sector
They warned that the move could result in millions of job losses, sparking social insecurity, increased poverty, and a surge in unemployment nationwide.
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