Fuel scarcity looms as NARTO declares nationwide service withdrawal

Nigeria is on the brink of a fuel scarcity crisis as the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) announces a nationwide service withdrawal on Monday, February 19, citing economic hardship arising from high operational costs and low freight rates.

In a recent letter addressed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and signed by the national president, Yusuf Lawal Othman, the commencement of service withdrawal is effective from today, Monday.

Despite numerous attempts to negotiate with key stakeholders in the industry, including the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), for fair and equitable freight rates, NARTO has faced disappointing responses.

This withdrawal notice poses significant challenges for the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the nation, given that NARTO controls over 80 percent of petroleum transportation in Nigeria.

The association expressed that it had no alternative but to notify NUPENG that its National Executive Council (NEC) has decided to instruct all members to refrain from making their petroleum trucks available for loading activities starting Monday, February 19, 2024.

NARTO appealed to its NUPENG-affiliated employees for maximum cooperation and understanding, emphasizing the collective effort required for the sustained viability of the petroleum haulage business and effective service delivery, given the challenging economic circumstances.

Workers lamented the impossibility of sustaining their operations within the current economic climate. The notice of service withdrawal has also been communicated to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (MMDPRA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the executive secretary of MEMAN.