‘No cause for alarm’ — tanker drivers guarantee distribution of petroleum products

Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) says there is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the country.

Lucky Osesua, national chairman of PTD, and Humble Obinna, national secretary, made this known in a jointly signed statement on Tuesday.

“There is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the six geopolitical zones of the country and PTD under the legitimate leadership of Comrade Lucky Osesua and his Deputy Comrade Dayyabu Garga has redoubled its commitment to ensure and guarantee lifting and distribution of petroleum products without encumbrance in observance of its statutory responsibility,” PTD said.

Furthermore, the group refuted any speculation circulating that tanker drivers have been instructed to stop lifting petroleum products in some depots in the country.

PTD leadership told the public to disregard any warning from the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) not to lift petroleum products from specific national depots, stating that Nigeria is a larger entity than one person.

“This is not true, and Nigerians should not as a result of this misinformation engage in panic buying and we strongly assure stakeholders in the petroleum industry’s value chain that PTD is committed to its noble roles of lifting and distribution of products across the country,” PTD said. 

“As socially responsible trade unionists, we understand the impact of economic sabotage, especially in an economy like that of Nigeria: therefore, on no condition will PTD be involved in this kind of inhuman and satanic agenda.

“It is also a vicious phenomenon that can undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic processes, and exacerbate social inequalities and tension.

“More pathetic is that businesses, livelihoods, and the most vulnerable segments of the society, such as the poor and downtrodden, suffer greatly from the consequences of this kind of mindless and thoughtless act.” 

‘ECONOMIC SABOTAGE IS SERIOUS CRIME’

The union said economic sabotage is a severe crime, adding that “we want DSS to take note and act accordingly”.

“We therefore direct all our members in all the zones across Nigeria not to heed any instruction from NUPENG or anyone else to stop them from the lifting of petroleum products,” PTD said. 

“We equally urge Nigerians and motorists to avoid storing of petrol at home because of the dangers associated with it.

“Meanwhile, fuel is available; we have visited many depots and we can confirm loading is going on; there is no cause for alarm. We have instructed our Tanker Drivers to engage in 24-hour loading activities and lift products from depots to filling stations across the country.”

The union reiterated its unwavering commitment to the federal government’s continuous efforts to ensure the effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products for industrial, household, and commercial purposes.

On February 9, 2023, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) had said there is no imminent increase in the cost of petrol.