Tanker drivers: Baru working for Nigeria’s interest

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, (NUPENG) says Maikanti Baru, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is working for Nigeria’s interest.

In a statement on Thursday, Salmon Oladiti, chairman of the union, wondered why “somebody is complaining that he is not being carried along”.

He said this in reaction to the disagreement between Baru and Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, who accused the GMD of sidelining the NNPC board.

Commending Baru, Oladiti said tanker drivers could now list petroleum products with ease at depots owned by NNPC in their states “without going as far Lagos”.

“Our stand is that we are in support of what he has been doing, especially  in the downstream sector. What Dr  Baru has been doing is in the interest of Nigeria and our union and the larger downstream sector as a whole,” the statement by Oladiti read.

“Before Dr Baru came on board, there were move to  privatise all the depots into private hands. Petroleum marketers and other stakeholders, we were being told that the depots were decrepit  and could no longer function.

“Their mission was to privatise  all the depots in the country into private hands. Those administering the corporation before him were empowering their cronies in the private depots. Since Dr Baru assumed office as GMD, NNPC, he  said all these depots are national assets and must be made to work.

“Nigerians can all see that he has started bringing them to life again. Yesterday, (Wednesday) he was in Ibadan depot and the depot is alive now. He started from Ejigbo depot in Lagos. That depot and the one in Aba is loading now. Mosimi depot in Ogun state is loading now.

“As we speak, Kano is loading and he will soon re-commission Ilorin depot. He has said that before the end of the year, he will make sure that he makes Ore depot and Enugu depots functional again.

“Millions of Nigerians are praying for him. All these depots were comatose before and the GMD, NNPC is bringing them back to life and somebody is complaining that he is not being carried along.

“The PTD branch of NUPENG under my leadership, we are hundred percent in support of the leadership of Dr Baru and his team. Now, our members can list petroleum products with ease at depots owned by NNPC in their respective states without coming long distance to Lagos to experience the trauma of traffic congestion and harassment by security agents and area boys.”