Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Strike Looms As NNPC Intervenes

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has called on Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) to call of their planned nationwide strike action in the interest and welfare of Nigerians.

It would be recalled that PTD members threatened to go on strike to press for government’s intervention on the dilapidated road conditions in various parts of Nigeria which are used for the distribution of goods and services including petroleum products.

Recognising its incapacitation as an external body in the value-chain of road rehabilitation and construction in the country, the NNPC has evolved an intervention plan to forestall any disruption in the nationwide distrubution of petroleum products which could adversely affect the business of the NNPC and endanger new regime of energy security.

In recognition of this, the NNPC has given assurance to the Petroleum Tanker Drivers to the effect that it has initiated an infrastructure renewal process flow that is designed to provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.

Having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC said it has offeref to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.

The thrust of the NNPC’s intervention, according to a statement on Sunday by its Group Spokesperson, Garba Deen Muhammed, is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through it Future Tax Liability.

“NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest.

“Accordingly, we urge PTD to immediately call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all.

“We also wish to strongly advice Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive seasond and beyond,” the statement read.