NUPENG explains why fuel scarcity persists in Nigeria

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has explained why the ongoing scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol has persisted.

The union blamed the development on the government’s misplacement of priority.

National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, who made the disclosure also absolved tanker drivers of blame in the fuel supply disruption across the country, saying “If Petroleum products are not available, there is no magic tanker drivers can perform.”

He spoke in Ibadan at the 5th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference with the theme, “Impact of insecurity on effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria.”

He spoke just as the National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch NUPENG, Salimon Oladiti, said the ban on night travelling by tanker drivers had helped in saving lives and reducing the rate of accidents.

Akporeha said the country would continue to experience fuel scarcity as long as the importation of refined petroleum products continued.

He decried the failure of the government to fix refineries, saying the continued importation is tantamount to the export of capital and jobs that are meant for the citizens.

“Government must as a matter of urgency rise to the occasion and take it as a matter of priority to fix refineries,” he said.

He added that while accidents involving tanker drivers had reduced, fuel scarcity has been minimised due to the commitment of PTD members who are always on duty.