Petrol workers resist AA Rano’s unmanned fuel stations over job fears

Jan. 8, 2026 – Kaduna, Nigeria. A group of petrol station attendants known as the Concerned Petrol Station Workers has pushed back against plans by downstream oil marketing company AA Rano Nigeria to roll out automated, unmanned fuel stations. In a statement issued from Kaduna on Thursday, the group warned that the initiative could deepen unemployment and insecurity in a country already dealing with rising living costs and joblessness. They urged regulators and the company to put safeguards in place before fully replacing pump attendants with machines as reported by The whistler.

AA Rano announced a day earlier that it had partnered with local technology firm Petrosoft Limited to deploy what it calls Nigeria’s first fully automated fuel stations. The company said the 24-hour self-service outlets, scheduled to go live this month, will allow customers to pump petrol and pay using contactless systems while the SmartPump technology handles real-time monitoring, eliminating the need for on-site attendants.

The fuel marketer explained that the project is designed to reduce losses, improve transparency and give customers confidence they are getting the exact volume paid for. General manager Mohammed Sule said AA Rano hopes to “set a new standard for reliability and speed” and make fuelling available at any time through automation. Petrosoft’s chief executive Joshua Denila added that the locally developed system aims to eliminate inefficiencies and deliver a world-class experience for end users.

In response, the workers’ convener, Comrade Ibrahim Zango, argued that the timing of the initiative is insensitive. He noted that many young Nigerians make a living as pump attendants and could be displaced if AA Rano removes attendants entirely. Zango said thousands of families depend on petrol station jobs, and introducing job-eliminating technology without adequate safeguards is “dangerous” when the nation is already grappling with mass unemployment and rising costs of living.

He urged AA Rano and regulators to consider the human cost of automation, arguing that some attendants have spent decades in the job and deserve a clear transition plan. The group supports technological progress but insists it should create new opportunities rather than eliminate existing livelihoods.

The concerns voiced by the workers reflect broader public frustrations. As 2026 began, Nigerians were already complaining about worsening living conditions, with unemployment, rising food prices and insecurity topping the list of grievances. The Concerned Petrol Station Workers contend that introducing unmanned stations at a time of economic strain could compound these challenges.

AA Rano has not responded publicly to the group’s statement.

The workers are calling for dialogue among the company, labour representatives and regulators to ensure that any technological upgrade includes measures to protect jobs and retrain displaced staff. The case highlights the tension between innovation and employment in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, where companies are increasingly adopting automation to improve efficiency. The Whistler first reported the workers’ opposition to AA Rano’s plan on Jan. 8, 2026, and the story has since been corroborated by multiple news outlets.

Source : The whistler