The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) have suspended their planned strike after NNPC’s intervention.

The unions pledged collaboration on ensuring the nationwide availability of petroleum products.

The suspension notice was announced in a communique following a critical stakeholders engagement between the NNPC Ltd., the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), PTD, NARTO, and NUPENG on Thursday, in Abuja.

The communique was jointly signed by NNPC group managing director Mele Kyari, PTD national chairman Salmon Oladiti, NARTO president Yusuf Otthman, NUPENG president Williams Akporeha, and NMDPRA executive director Abiodun Adeniji.

NUPENG and PTD had declared to go on strike based on its investigations which revealed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing were diverting the fund provided by NNPC for the rehabilitation of 21 critical highways.

”To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects,” said the communique.

On review of freight rate for transporters, the communique noted that the stakeholders requested completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs.

It noted that the stakeholders highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners faced in the light of current economic realities.

It further noted that the NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee was constituted to review the rates, which included PTD, NARTO, NUPENG, and other stakeholders.

It stated that all parties agreed to work expeditiously to conclude the freight rate review and make recommendations to the government.

According to the communique, the authority is to advise on a definite close-out date during the week of February 21.

”The parties also agreed to foster collaboration on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products. All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country,” added the communique. 

(NAN)