TheCable

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says the ongoing nationwide strike by some oil workers will not lead to fuel scarcity.

TheCable had reported that oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) commenced a nationwide indefinite strike.

The industrial action is in protest of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform implemented by the federal government.

Reacting to the development, Mele Kyari, NNPC general managing director, said there are over 2.9 billion litres of petrol available for the festive period.

According to a statement signed by Kennie Obateru, group general manager of NNPC group public affairs division, on Tuesday, Kyari dismissed mounting insinuation of possible scarcity of petroleum products over the strike action.

Kyari said the indefinite strike “would not lead to scarcity of petroleum products as all fuel stations and petrol depots in the country have enough stock of products to service consumers and are open for business”.

“While expressing hope that the industrial dispute would be settled amicably, Kyari assured that the corporation has thus far emplaced a stock of over 2.9 billion litres of petrol to guarantee seamless movement of people, goods and services across the country in the forthcoming Christmas season and beyond,” the statement read.

“The NNPC GMD reiterated that the corporation is determined to make the 2020 end-of-year festivities a zero fuel queue period just like the preceding year, noting that critical stockholders in the petroleum products supply and distribution chain such as tanker drivers, depot owners and road transport owners have been mobilized to ensure hitch-free season.”