Fuel Scarcity Looms As Petrol Tanker Drivers Withdraw Services Nationwide

Fuel scarcity threatens Nigeria as the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) suspends its nationwide services on Monday, February 19, citing economic hardship due to high operational expenses and low freight rates.

A recent letter signed by Yusuf Lawal Othman, the national president, addressed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), indicates that the service withdrawal begins today, Monday

The Association has stated that it made several attempts to negotiate with the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and other important industry stakeholders for fair and suitable freight rates for its operations but received no positive responses.

The announcement of their decision to withdraw services and operations suggests serious consequences for the supply and distribution of petroleum products throughout the country, given NARTO’s control of over 80 percent of petroleum transportation in Nigeria

NARTO stated it had no choice but to inform NUPENG that its National Executive Council (NEC) had resolved to direct all its members not to make their petroleum trucks available for loading petroleum products starting Monday, February 19, 2024

The group appealed to its employees, who are also members of NUPENG, to exhibit maximum cooperation, support, and understanding of its collective efforts aimed at maintaining the sustainability of the petroleum haulage business and ensuring effective service delivery by promptly complying with the directive

The workers lamented that it was impossible to continue in the business within the context of the country’s current economic situation.

The workers expressed their frustration, stating that continuing in the business was untenable given the current economic situation in the country

The notifications of the withdrawal of operations were sent to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (MMDPRA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the executive secretary of MEMAN.

Kanyi Daily recalls that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu had slammed President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2023 general elections.