Petrol tanker drivers suspend nationwide strike

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has suspended its planned nationwide strike.

The suspension follows a meeting of the association with the federal government and stakeholders on Monday after tanker drivers stopped lifting petroleum products.

Yusuf Lawal, national president of NARTO, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

NARTO had requested that oil marketers review freight rates after the deregulation of the downstream sector.

In a letter dated February 15, 2024, addressed to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the association said oil marketers turned down its request, stating that it can no longer continue with operations due to the state of the economy.

NARTO stopped operations on February 19 — the same day a meeting with the federal government ended in a deadlock.

However, after a meeting with the federal government in Abuja on Tuesday, Lawal said the association has agreed to suspend the strike.

Speaking after the meeting, he said the association has reached a meeting point with the marketers.

Lawal said they have agreed to commence operations with immediate effect.

According to him, the strike was suspended due to the economic hardship.

“We’ll commence operations immediately,” he said.

Lawal said the marketers had proposed additional freight rates, saying there is room for improvement.