The Federal Government has promised to address the concerns of oil transporters and distributors to ensure smooth distribution following the high cost of operations and maintenance of trucks used in the distribution of petroleum products.

Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made this known Monday in Abuja, when he met with some of the oil stakeholders in the downstream sector.

The stakeholders include members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, Petroleum Tankers Drivers, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

The meeting became necessary in view of fuel queues noticeable across fuel stations.

This development is as a result of the suspension of operations by NARTO in fulfillment of their threat to suspend lifting of petroleum products nationwide and down tools from Monday due to high cost of operations and maintenance.

NARTO and the oil marketers had complained of the high cost of diesel which is over N1, 300 per litre required to fuel their trucks for the transportation and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

A movement around the city of Abuja showed that many fuel stations were not dispensing the premium motor spirit known as fuel, while few marketers that were dispensing had long queues and sold between N617 and N675 per litre.

The NNPC Ltd. retail outlets that currently sell at N617 per litre also had long queues, while black marketers were seen on the roads.

The minister however, said the transporters had demonstrated patriotism and assured of constant and sustained engagement to find lasting solutions to their challenges.

“Nigerians are already going through a lot as a result of the circumstances we found ourselves in. The issues they raised are basically commercial and as a government, we have to intervene so that Nigerians will not suffer. At the end of the engagement, there will be a solution,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting, NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, said the meeting was fruitful because the minister appreciated them and assured them of the government’s readiness to tackle their challenges.

“We are not fighting the government and it is not government business anymore to pay us freight rate, rather it is in the hands of the oil marketers. The oil marketers also made some increase in the freight rate which should be addressed to. The minister promised to meet with us and the marketers on Tuesday,” Mr Othman said.

The engagement which is expected to find a lasting solution to the challenges continues on Tuesday.

(NAN)