The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),says it will start sanctioning any marketer found to be indulging in the unwholesome and disgusting practices of hoarding and racketeering.
In a statement by its President and Secretary General, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale,the union said any marketer selling above the approved ex-depot prices would have the union to contend with henceforth.
It urged all members in the distribution chain to remain steadfast and dedicated to serving their fatherland.
“We are aware there are some decent and patriotic marketers, who are willing and ready to do business in ways and manners that will not exploit and inflict pains on the public. We are therefore calling on this set of marketers not to be discouraged or relent but to keep cooperating with the union and other patriotic stakeholders to help stem this ugly trend.
“We urge the government to also be sincere and make the product available in such quantities, ways and manners that will not give room for these unscrupulous elements to be holding our nation to ransom. The few wicked ones cannot and should not be allowed to overwhelm us,” it said.
The union described as appalling and shameful the involvement if marketers in the ongoing scarcity of fuel in the country.
It has placed members in the supply chain of petroleum products’ distribution from the depots workers, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and petrol stations’ workers on red alert to serve despite the prevailing security challenges in the country.
The union also notified that seven of its members, who are tanker drivers and moving product from A.Y Shafa and some other depots from South-South to the northern part of the country were currently hiding in bushes along Benin-Auchi-Lokoja highway due to attacks by bandits and hoodlums.