The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has kicked against the alleged increase in truck loading fees for petrol by the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD).
National President of the association, Alhaji Lawal Dan-Zaki, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, cited an “arbitrary increase” of loading fees.
ADITOP said one of the major concerns of the association was the alleged alarming abuse, impunity, and arbitrary increase of levies imposed by the PTD, they said:
“At present, the PTD collects N60,000 per truck for loading and is planning a further increase.
”We in the ADITOP vehemently oppose this. This exorbitant increase places an undue burden on the already struggling general public and serves no productive purpose at this critical juncture in the downstream sector,” the statement read in part.
Dan-Zaki said it was the considered view of ADITOP tha no association in the oil and gas industry should be permitted to collect unreasonable levies per truck of PMS.
“By doing so, the association aims to restore a fair and just system that promotes cooperation and sustainability across the industry.
“Due to these unpatriotic and illegal collections, the members of ADITOP wish to inform the general public and all stakeholders in the downstream sector of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry that the association will soon commence nationwide operations.
“This will include but not be limited to nationwide road service and safety measures for members in addition to the collection of levies.”
The association said it will not stand by and allow what it described as blatant impunity against its members to persist, and urged the Federal Government to intervene promptly and halt the petroleum tanker drivers from terrorising other stakeholders in the oil industry.
