Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD)’s branch of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Monday called for a nationwide strike over the poor state of highways and other safety issues.
This was contained in a communique issued on Monday after a meeting held on Saturday in Enugu.
The communique was signed by the PTD chairman, Comrade Salmon Akanni Oladiti, and the Secretary, Sunday OchibeJivwie.
The directive is coming after five days of blockage of Sukeja-Minna and Bida-Minna Road by tanker drivers.
Tanker drivers had since Friday blocked the Suleja-Lambata-Bida road since Friday, protesting the alleged restriction of the movement by Niger State Government due to ongoing reconstruction of Minna-Bida Road.
The union said, after deliberating on important safety issues, the Council resolved to resume the suspended action of 1st May 2021.
“Consequently, all petroleum tanker drivers are directed to immediately embark on work to rule action with effect from 27th September 2021, in preparation for total withdrawal of their services from 8th October 2021 if the federal government fails to address these three safety concerns,” it said.
There may be petroleum scarcity, if the strike holds, as tanker drivers will not lift petroleum products from various storage facilities belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
