Fuel Scarcity: NUPENG Talks Tough On Oil Marketers Who Sell Above The Recommended Pump Price 

Organised oil workers under the auspices of the National Union Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) has vowed to picket those oil marketers who are subjecting the masses into pain and hardship through selling above the recommended pump price.

The decision was revealed in a joint statement issued by the president, NUPENG, Comrade Prince William Akporeha and the general secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale.

The statement read: “we wish to condemn this brutal exploitation of the masses by these Shylock Marketers in the strongest terms and we have resolved to commence sanctioning any Marketer we find to be indulging in this unwholesome and disgusting practices.

“Any marketer selling above the approved ex-depot prices will have our Union to contend with henceforth while urging all our members in the distribution chain to remain steadfast and dedicated to serving our fatherland.”

Speaking further, the duo added that, “we are aware there are some decent and patriotic Marketers who are willing and ready to do business in ways and manners that will not exploit and inflict pains on the public. We are therefore calling on these sets of Marketers not to be discouraged or relent but to keep cooperating with the Union and other patriotic Stakeholders to help stem this ugly trend.

“We urge the government to also be sincere and make the product available in such quantities, ways and manners that will not give room for these unscrupulous elements to be holding our nation to ransom. The few wicked ones cannot and should not be allowed to overwhelm us”

Meanwhile, the union raised alarm over the insecurity of some of the tanker drivers whose lives are at risk and are hiding in the bushes of highway along Benin-Auchi- Lokoja roads due to attacks by bandits and hoodlums.

Akporeha and Olawale who made this known, furthermore, called for safety of the seven members who were transporting fuel from A.Y Shafa and some other depots from South-South to the Northern part of the country when they were attacked.

They said the union has reached out to law enforcement agents for rescue and protection.

“But more worrisome and biggest obstacle to the usual effective and patriotic services is the depressing and frustrating antics of some unscrupulous marketers who are busy using this seemingly initial break in logistics from offshore vessels to exploit and extort the hapless public through racketeering and hoarding of the product,” they said.