Fuel scarcity may persist as oil workers shut down NNPC operations

The lingering fuel scarcity in the nation may be aggravated more following the decision of oil workers in the country to disrupt the operations of the NNPC over its unbundling by federal government on Tuesday.

National Daily gathered that both the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and National Union and Petroleum (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had convened an emergency meeting of both unions group executive committee where the decision was taken.

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At the end of the meeting, GEC sent this message to all members: “The GEC of NUPENG & PENGASSAN at its meeting of 8th March 2016, which started at 10:00pm, has extensively discussed the pronouncement of the GMD on NNPC UNBUNDLING. We observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage STAKEHOLDERS. Hence, from midnight today, ALL NNPC LOCATIONS will be SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly.”

The immediate impact of the strike will be nationwide fuel scarcity as products will not be lifted by NUPENG. It is not expected to affect the crude oil export yet except the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) joins in solidarity.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, who doubles as the NNPC group managing director, had announced the creation of seven independent units on Tuesday, namely downstream, gas and power, refineries, ventures, corporate planning and services, and finance and accounts.