Petrol station attendants operating under the Concerned Petrol Station Workers group have kicked against plans by AA Rano to roll out fully automated and unmanned fuel stations across Nigeria.
The oil marketing company recently announced that it would introduce the self service stations in January, describing the project as Nigeria’s first fully automated filling station model designed to operate around the clock.
Under the plan, the stations will rely on contactless payment platforms, automated fuel dispensing systems and real time surveillance technology, effectively eliminating the need for pump attendants.
Reacting to the development, the group’s convener and labour rights advocate, Comrade Ibrahim Zango, warned that the initiative could worsen unemployment and insecurity if implemented without safeguards for workers.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Zango said thousands of young Nigerians currently depend on petrol station jobs for survival and would be adversely affected by the move.
He described the plan as poorly timed, given Nigeria’s economic challenges, rising cost of living and growing unemployment.
“At a period when many Nigerians are struggling to survive, introducing job removing technology without any protection for workers is risky and insensitive,” he said.
Zango stressed that many attendants have spent years in the sector and deserve a clear transition plan rather than sudden displacement.
While acknowledging the value of innovation, he argued that technological advancement should create new opportunities instead of eliminating existing jobs.
The workers’ leader called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to establish policies that balance innovation with labour protection, and urged AA Rano to engage workers and regulators before proceeding with the rollout.
