NNPC and the two bodies had a meeting on Thursday, where they agreed to collaborate and ensure nationwide availability of petroleum products
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) met with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and The Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum (NUPENG-PTD ) in its bid to avoid the planned strike Action and end the current scarcity of petroleum products.
Both groups had last week threatened to embark on strike over the alleged diversion of the N621bn road fund provided by the NNPC and the failure of the government to increase the freight rate for transporting petrol.
The meeting which took place on Thursday. February 17, 2022, at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, had in attendance critical stakeholders such as NMDPRA, NNPC, PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG.
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NNPC after the meeting announced that the two bodies have suspended their planned industrial action after the intervention of the national oil company.
The parties after a long deliberation on road rehabilitation resolved that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.
On the review of freight rate for transporters, they also agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government
As it concerns collaboration on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products, all parties said they will work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.
After the engagement, the outcome of the meeting was communicated to members of the press through a communique read by NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Mele Kyari
The communique issued read, ” NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme and assured the stakeholders (NUPENG, NARTO, and PTD) that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only. To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of road projects.
“The stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of current economic realities.
NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which include PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders. All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022.
” All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.”
