Oil workers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),says the lingering fuel scarcity in the country is due government’s misplaced priority.
NUPENG President, Comrade William Akporeha, explained that rather than blaming tanker drivers for petrol scarcity, the blame should be put on the doorstep of the government, who he said had refused to build new refineries in the last 30 to 40 years.
He spoke during the 5th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG in Ibadan the Oyo State capital, where he also questioned the rationale for importing petrol and diesel when these products could be refined locally if the refineries are working.
He said: “Why are the scarcity of petrol? Where is the product? The scarcity is not caused by tanker drivers but government’s misplaced priority. If the product is available, members will move it around.
“By importing the product, you are exporting capital, exporting jobs by doing so,” the NUPENG boss said. To turn the tide, he called on the Federal Government to put the refineries to ensure that petroleum products are refined locally. I don’t think it’s rocket science to do that. The refineries we have today were built by the military 30 to 40 years ago”.
In his remarks,outgoing National Chairman, PTD Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Salimon Akani Oladiti, said the ban on night travelling by tanker drivers have helped in saving lives and drastically reducing the rate of accidents, especially at night.
According to him, through the collaboration with stakeholders especially the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the rate of accidents involving Tanker Drivers had reduced while Tanker Drivers’ involvement in Petroleum Pipeline vandalization has been tackled with all the seriousness it deserves.
Oladiti recalled his concerns for the safety of lives of Petroleum Tanker Drivers dated back to his younger days as a driver and on the assumption of office in 2014, he made a policy to inculcate discipline among members hence the decision to ban night traveling.
He added that while accidents involving tanker drivers had reduced, fuel scarcity has been minimized due to the commitment of PTD members who are always on duty.
He disclosed that the PTD partnership with NARTO, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the FRSC, and other relevant stakeholders has brought incessant strikes by PTD members to the barest minimum.
He also commended the FRSC Corps Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi for collaborating with PTD to introduce the use and enforcement of speed limits in their trucks.
“This measure helped in a tremendous way to reduce incidences of Tanker accidents on our roads. Instead of being enemies, we have partnered so well like friends and mutually helped to reduce carnage on our roads. For that, our wonderful Corps Marshal deserves a special award today,” he added.
