Financial Energy Review
by James Ikenna………………
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed their members to withdraw their services Monday 10th, August, 2020 following the unresolved issues of congesting the Apapa roads coupled with the daily harassment and extortion by security agent.
In a statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Aporeha and the General Secretary, Taiwo Afolabi, the group said the directive became necessary after authorities in Lagos and the Presidential Task Force failed to resolve these challenges.
The statement reads in part; “It is sad and disheartening to note here that we had made several appeals and reports to Lagos State Government and the Presidential Task Force for the decongestion of Apapa on these challenges but all to no avail.
We cannot afford to fold our arms while our members are being consistently and continually extorted, intimidated, harassed and victimized by different groups and segments in Lagos” NUPENG said.
The group stressed that until the issues of extortion by security officials, hoodlums and menace of containerised trucks in several parts of the state are addressed, the services of the tanker drivers will remain suspended.
Part of the statement by NUPENG said that it is really disturbing and as well inexplicable that security agents who are expected to ensure free-flow of traffic and protection of road users now use their uniforms and arms to intimidate, harass and extort money from Petroleum Tanker Drivers. This reprehensible conduct is taking serious tolls on the psychological, emotional and financial state of Petroleum Tanker Drivers and their capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver services to the nation.
“This menace must stop and the leadership of these security operatives in Lagos State must go all out to call their men to order with immediate effect. Everyone of them should be contented with their salaries and allowances rather than turning hapless Petroleum Tanker Drivers to money making machine.
“Menance of Containerized Trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri and Beach Land axis of Lagos State and collusion of government officials hindering Petroleum Tankers from loading activities at depots and tank farms:
Persistent traffic gridlock and indiscriminate parking of containerized trucks on major Lagos roads and bridges leading to Apapa port, Kirikiri, Beach Land, Satellite Town, Ijegun, are another major setbacks bedeviling the smooth running of the operations of Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State” they said.
According to them the MRS depot has been held captive for more than 3 months from discharging products to Petroleum Tanker Drivers despite heavy availability of Petroleum products stockpiled in their tank farm facilities.
They pointed out that for safety reasons, Petroleum Tanker Drivers cannot continue to struggle with these containerized trucks in these corridors considering the inflammable nature of the products our members carry and we cannot afford to undermine safety standards, procedures and protocols in the course of our services.
