Project Funds Won’t Be Diverted, Says NNPC Boss
By Emeka Okafor
The planned strike by members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), Nigerian Association Of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Nigeria Union Of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has been suspended.
The suspension of the planned strike followed the intervention of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, on Thursday.
The unions had threatened to down tools over alleged plans by some politicians including state governors to divert funds meant for 21 Critical Road Project across the country into other projects.
But at an engagement meeting with the NNPC boss, the unions called off the planned strike after they were assured that the funds for the project would not be diverted into other projects.
NNPC and the Petroleum unions also resolved to work together to quickly end the scarcity of the product over the controversy that trialed the importation of bad fuel into the country.
This was contained in a joint communique issued at the end of the engagement meeting and signed by the National President of NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha; President of NARTO, Mr. Yusuf Otthman; National Chairman, PTD, Otunba S. A. Oladiti; ED F&A, NMDPRA, Abiodun Adeniji and NNPC Ltd GMD, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari.
The communique reads, “Road Rehabilitation: NNPC provided updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme and assured the stakeholders (NUPENG, NARTO and PTD) that the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.
“To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects.
“Review of freight rate for transporters: The stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of current economic realities.
“NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which includes PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.
“All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022.
“Collaboration on ensuring Nationwide availability of petroleum products. All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.”
