AA Rano Unveils Plan for Nigeria’s First Unmanned Fuel Stations Amid Workers’ Opposition

A A RANO Filling Station 

Petrol station workers operating under the banner of the Concerned Petrol Station Workers have rejected AA Rano’s plan to introduce what it describes as Nigeria’s first fully automated, unmanned fuel stations.

The workers cautioned that implementing the initiative without proper safeguards could aggravate unemployment and heighten insecurity nationwide.

AA Rano recently disclosed plans to deploy the automated stations this January, explaining that the outlets would run a 24-hour self-service fuelling system. 

The company said the stations would use contactless payment solutions, real-time monitoring, and automated dispensing technology, removing the need for pump attendants.

Reacting to the announcement, the convener of the group and labour rights advocate, Comrade Ibrahim Zango, voiced strong concerns over the proposal.

In a statement released in Kaduna on Thursday, Zango warned that many young Nigerians currently employed as petrol station attendants could lose their livelihoods if the plan goes ahead.

He argued that the timing was inappropriate, given the country’s economic difficulties and growing unemployment rate.

“At a time when Nigeria is battling widespread unemployment, rising living costs, and increasing insecurity, introducing job-eliminating technology without protective measures is risky,” Zango said.

He urged stakeholders to weigh the human impact of the innovation, stressing that thousands of families depend on income from petrol station jobs.

Zango added that across AA Rano’s numerous stations nationwide, a significant number of attendants earn their living through such employment.

According to him, many of the workers have spent decades in the sector and should not be displaced without a clear and humane transition plan.

“For those of us who have worked in these roles for years, being pushed out without solid alternatives will only deepen the country’s challenges,” he stated.

While acknowledging the importance of technological progress, Zango maintained that innovation should not undermine workers’ welfare.

He said automation in the downstream petroleum sector should be structured to generate new opportunities rather than eliminate existing ones.

Zango also called on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory bodies to urgently establish policies that balance technological advancement with labour protection.

He further appealed to AA Rano’s management to demonstrate social responsibility, noting that many petrol station attendants once started from humble beginnings similar to that of the company’s leadership.

“They should not be deprived of their means of livelihood in the name of innovation,” he said, calling for dialogue among the company, workers, and regulators before the plan is executed.