Nigeria’s second largest city, Lagos, is likely to be hit by fuel shortage this week as members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) withdraw their services effective today Monday, August 10, 2020.

The industrial action by members of NUPENG, in the West African nation, is as result of the failure of the government’s authorities to address the various issues that have been causing serious pains and harrowing experience on the petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos for several months now.

A statement issued by Williams Eniredonana Akporeha, Chairman of NUPENG at the weekend said the entire rank and file of the Union are deeply pained and frustrated by the so many challenges being consistently faced by petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State.

The statement said that the Union was left with no other option but to direct its members to withdraw their services in Lagos State until the State Government and other relevant stakeholders address these critical challenges.

“It is really disturbing and as well inexplicable that security agents who are expected to ensure free-flow of traffic and protection of road users now use their uniforms and arms to intimidate, harass and extort money from petroleum tanker drivers.

“This reprehensible conduct is taking serious tolls on the psychological, emotional and financial state of petroleum tanker drivers and their capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the nation.

“This menace must stop and the leadership of these security operatives in Lagos State must go all out to call their men to order with immediate effect. Everyone of them should be contented with their salaries and allowances rather than turning hapless petroleum tanker drivers to money-making machine,” the statement said.

According to the Union, the menace of trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri and Beach Land axis of Lagos and collusion of government officials are hindering petroleum tankers from loading activities at depots and tank farms.

Persistent traffic gridlock and indiscriminate parking of containerised trucks on major Lagos roads and bridges leading to Apapa Port, Kirikiri, Beach Land, Satellite Town and Ijegun are another major setbacks bedevilling the smooth running of the operations of petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos State, the union said.

“As at today, MRS depot has been held captive for more than three months from discharging products to petroleum tanker drivers despite heavy availability of petroleum products stockpiled in their tank farm facilities.

“For safety reasons, petroleum tanker drivers cannot continue to struggle with these containerised trucks in these corridors considering the inflammable nature of the products our members carry. Additionally, we cannot afford to undermine safety standards, procedures and protocols in the course of our services.

“This is a situation that appears to have defied solution, considering the government’s non-intervention, lack of sensitivity over the years and collusion by those called upon by the Presidency to proffer solutions to the problem.”

On the harassment by area boys, the Union said tanker drivers have continued to work in fear due to incessant attacks by members of various notorious groups who have developed a penchant for extorting money forcefully from them.

“Petroleum tanker drivers now battle with both area boys and area God-fathers amidst deplorable state of the roads in Lagos State, and this is really causing PTD lots of havoc on a daily basis.

“A distance of just about 10 kilometres, for example, now takes seven to eight hours of manoeuvres and meandering by petrol tankers, many of which break down in the process, upturning their contents, killing PTD members and endangering the lives of several other Nigerians who traverse the roads.”

The National leadership of NUPENG, has, on this note, directed the withdrawal of services of its members from Monday, 10th August, 2020, until their major concerns are addressed.

Source:www.energynewsafrica.com

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