The scarcity of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as
petrol, may worsen following a claim by tanker drivers that security agents
destroyed products they had lifted from refineries.
Lucky Osesua, chairman of petroleum tanker drivers (PTD), a
branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),
spoke at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Nigerians are currently experiencing a widespread petrol
scarcity which has protracted for several weeks, affecting the means of
livelihood of citizens.
Speaking to journalists at the news conference, Osesua said
the military on Tuesday night destroyed two trucks conveying high pour fuel oil
(HPFO) popularly known as black oil.
He said the trucks had lifted the black oil from a modular
refinery — Walter Smith Refinery and Petrochemical Ibigwe — in Imo state.
The PTD chairman said the trucks marked, EFR 770 XA and AFZ
351 ZY, were intercepted in Rivers, where they were burnt.
“The trucks laden with 40,000 litres of black oil were on
their way to Bob & Sea Depot Koko Delta state,” he said while showing
reporters receipts and pictures of the burnt trucks.
“The drivers
presented way bills, NUPENG receipts, and quality control documents but the
military men still insisted that they carried crude oil. They drove the two
trucks away and burnt them between Ahoada and Elele in Rivers state, on Tuesday
night.
“Without investigation, without reaching out to the refinery
where the drivers mentioned that they lifted the black oil, the soldiers burnt
down the trucks in less than five hours.
“Enough is enough about the high-handedness of our security
agents.
“They should stop demonising our union and persecuting our
men who are doing their normal businesses. We expect that in this modern world,
trained security agents should be able to identify black oil as against crude
oil.
“We should not be at
the receiving end of their ignorance.”
Osesua lamented that such situations have adversely affected
their ability to supply products across the country.
In September, 2022, both NUPENG and PTD withdrew their
services over harassment by security operatives, causing fuel scarcity in
Rivers.
The groups, however, suspended their industrial action in
the state after a meeting convened by Friday Eboka, Rivers commissioner of
police and attended by the unions and other stakeholders.
The decision to end the strike was also contained in a
communique signed by Chinda Ejims, who had represented the PTD and the
representative of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory
Authority.
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