21 critical roads: PTD, NUPENG, NARTO, others suspend  planned strike

ABUJA, Nigeria – Critical stakeholders in  the petroleum haulage business have agreed  to suspend their planned strike to press home their request for repairs and rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure hindering free movement of petroleum products across the country.

The critical stakeholders, comprising Nigerian Association of Road Transport  Owners, NARTO, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG  suspended the strike following a meeting with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, during which they resolved to work together and monitor the 21 critical road projects being constructed  under the NNPC tax credit scheme.

During the meeting, the NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme and assured the stakeholders (NUPENG, NARTO and PTD) that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.

To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects and review of freight rate for transporters

In the communiqué signed by PTD chairman, Otunba S.A. Oladiti, NARTO President, Mr. Yusuf Ottahman, NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha,  ED F&A, NMDPRA, Mr. Abiodun Adeniji and GMD NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, the stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of current economic realities.

NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which includes PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.

All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government.

The Authority is to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022”.  In addition the stakeholders also agreed to collaborate to ensure Nationwide availability of petroleum products, while all parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.