By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Petrol station workers under the platform of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers have raised the concern over plans by AA Rano to introduce what the company tagged as Nigeria’s first fully automated and unmanned fuel stations.
The group warned that the move could worsen the level of unemployment and insecurity if implemented without safeguards.
Recall that AA Rano recently announced that it would roll out the automated outlets this January, explaining that the stations would operate a 24-hour self-service fuelling system.
According to the company, the model will rely on contactless payment platforms, real-time monitoring technology and automated dispensing systems, effectively eliminating the need for on-site pump attendants.
The announcement has, however, drawn sharp criticism from workers in the downstream petroleum sector.
Reacting to the development, the convener of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers and rights advocate, Comrade Ibrahim Zango, expressed strong reservations, describing the initiative as ill-timed and socially risky.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, Zango said thousands of young Nigerians currently engaged as petrol station attendants risk losing their livelihoods at a time the country is battling economic hardship and rising joblessness.
“At a time when Nigeria is already grappling with mass unemployment, rising cost of living, and growing insecurity, deploying job-eliminating technology without safeguards is dangerous,” Zango said.
He urged industry players and policymakers to consider the human cost of the innovation, stressing that petrol station jobs remain a major source of income for many households across the country.
“So imagine the number of AA Rano fuel stations alone across the country and even beyond. Imagine the number of pump attendants working and earning their living from these stations,” he added.
According to him, many of the affected workers have spent decades in the job and deserve better treatment than being displaced without a clear transition or support plan.
“To us, sending us out of the jobs some of us have been doing for decades without robust plans will only multiply our crisis as a country,” Zango stated.
While acknowledging the importance of technological advancement in improving efficiency and service delivery, the workers’ leader insisted that innovation must not come at the expense of workers’ welfare and social stability.
He argued that automation in the downstream petroleum sector should be structured in a way that creates new opportunities, such as technical, monitoring or supervisory roles, rather than simply eliminating existing jobs.
Zango also called on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to urgently develop clear policies that strike a balance between technological innovation and labour protection in the sector.
He further appealed to AA Rano’s management to demonstrate corporate social responsibility, noting that many petrol station attendants today started from humble beginnings similar to those of the company’s leadership.
“They should not be pushed out of their livelihoods in the name of innovation,” Zango said, urging dialogue among the company, workers and regulators before the automated stations are rolled out nationwide.
