Fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG commences strike Monday

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says its Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) will commence a strike tomorrow over the deplorable state of the nation’s highways and other issues.

Tayo Aboyeji, the South-west Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos said the union has lost many lives and properties due to bad roads.

Mr Aboyeji said all tanker drivers from the union would withdraw their services nationwide.

“This is not the first time that we will signify our intention to go on strike but we have to call it off because it will generally affect the majority of Nigerians but now our hands are tied.

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“We are going on nationwide strike because of the deplorable and shameful state of our highways. When a truck loads petrol in Lagos, the drivers spend five to six days to get to Abuja because of the shameful state of the roads. All calls by the executive of petroleum unions have fallen on the deaf ears of the government as the highways continue to deteriorate nationwide.

“The list of the highway (sic) is endless and the tanker drivers have been going through harrowing situations while rendering selfless national service. The increase (d) rate of fire incidents involving petroleum tankers with accompanying massive destruction of lives and properties of our members and general public is enough. This is because of the government ‘s failure to enforce installation of safety gadgets on tankers. This will protect the inflammation contents of their trucks from spilling over in a road accident.