Cabal Behind Fuel Scarcity as Situation Worsens Around the Country - NUPENG

 

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has attributed the ongoing scarcity of fuel across the country to the activities of a cabal in the downstream sector.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday blamed those it described as downstream sector cabal for the current scarcity of petrol around the country.

 

According to the union, its members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch are working and lifting products to the nooks and crannies of the country.

 

In a statement signed by its president, Igwe Achese, the union said: “NUPENG is not responsible for the present shortage of petroleum products being experienced nationwide.

 

“Our members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of NUPENG are working and lifting products to the nooks and crannies of the country.”

 

The statement further blamed the policy makers of the country for not adhering to its calls for the urgent need to rehabilitate the nation’s four refineries to get them working optimally.

 

NUPENG stated that the cabal in the downstream sector are at work sabotaging all efforts to make products available through revamping of the nation’s four refineries.

 

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday gave the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director, GMD of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, the matching order to clear the queues in filling stations in the country before weekend.

 

Briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the rumour that there was plan to increase fuel pump price was not correct. “The government has no intention at all to increase the pump price of PMS."

 

Government’s marching order came as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, blamed those it called downstream sector’s cabal for the scarcity, arguing that its members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch, were working and lifting products to the nooks and crannies of the country.

 

This is even as the scarcity worsened yesterday, with petrol stations witnessing very long vehicular queues that compounded traffic in Lagos.