NNPC Engages Stakeholders To Rebuild Roads Under Tax Credit Scheme

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has taken the first significant step towards the actualisation of its contingency plan to assist the nation in the rehabilitation and repair of major roads in order to reduce road down-time associated with long-haul transportation of petroleum and allied products, currently experienced by members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD).

RovingNaija recalls that the NNPC, at a petroleum and Gas stakeholder meeting held last weekend, had offered to weigh-in on the road transport challenge currently witnessed by PTD members as a palliative to forestall the implementation of the planned nationwide strike by Tanker Drivers, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to press home their demands for better road network in the country.

Consequently, and as a follow-up to its efforts in sustaining the current smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide within the festive period and beyond, the NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari, said he convened another meeting on Tuesday, where he engaged critical stakeholders with the objective to find lasting solutions to the road network challenges and other lingering issues.

The meeting was attended by the NNPC, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Kyari noted that stakeholders have agreed on a framework for NNPC’s intervention in critical road rehabilitation through the Federal Government Tax Credit Scheme.

“We are committed to utilising the Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme to rebuild some of the affected roads in line with Mr. President’s Executive Order 7. Upon our fruitful deliberations today, the NNPC has pledged to support the PTD and NARTO in carrying out quick intervention fixes on some strategic bad spots identified to enable unhindered movement of trucks for transportation of petroleum products nationwide,” Mallam Kyari stated.

Established under FG’s Executive Order 7 of 2019, the Road Trust Fund Policy/Tax Credit Scheme gives private sector operators an opportunity to fund critical infrastructure with the government.

Mallam Kyari said stakeholders also agreed to enforce mandatory installation of safety valves in all petroleum product trucks in the country effective February 1, 2022 with full commitment given by NARTO.

According to a statement by Garba Deen Muhammed, Group Spokesperson to the Corporation, the meeting also frowned at the abuse of axle load or tonnage limits, with the NNPC agreeing to engage the Nigerian Customs Service for the enforcement of extant rules on the importation of tanks excess of 45,000 litres capacity.