Tanker drivers, NARTO suspend planned strike

The Petroleum Tankers Driver (PTD) arm of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the National Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have suspended their planned strike over the poor state of roads and review of freight rates.

This was after holding a meeting with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said a communiqué by NNPC Ltd on Thursday night.

It said following the engagement between NMDPRA, NNPC, PTD, NARTO and NUPENG, the parties resolved some issues, one of which is road rehabilitation.

NNPC said it 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 the road projects.”

They also discussed the review of freight rates for transporters as 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 said 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 a definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022.”

They also agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country, according to a communiqué of the meeting attended by the National Chairman PTD, Salimon Oladiti and NARTO President, Yusuf Otthman.