NUPENG Strike: Fuel scarcity hits Abuja

Abuja – Long fuel queues have again
resurfaced in most filling stations in Abuja
following a three-day warning strike
embarked upon by the National Union of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
( NUPENG).

NUPENG started the strike on Monday to
press home its demand for what it termed
unfair labour practices by some oil
companies toward its workers.
Fuel scarcity
A visit to some major filling stations in the
FCT on Monday reports that chaos was the
order of the day as motorists jostled to get
fuel.
At the popular NNPC Mega Station in the
Central Area, the queue had resulted in
partial blockage of the adjoining road and a
horrendous traffic jam.
Some motorists at the filling station had
expressed dismay at the development, with
a call on the relevant government agencies
to immediately step in to address the
situation.
Mr Pius Adejoh, a civil servant at the filling
station described the situation as a set-
back to the transformation agenda in the
oil and gas sector.

“I think it’s really very sad that we are back
to those days when we have to queue at
filling stations to get fuel.
“The Federal Government needs to step in
and meet with the oil unions with a view to
finding a lasting solution to this perennial
problem.”

Mr Kayode Olagoke, a taxi driver, also
condemned the sudden queues at the
filling stations and warned that it would
lead to an increase in transportation fares
if not urgently addressed.

The situation was also not different at the
Conoil Filling Station, Central Area,
opposite the NNPC Towers as long queues
of vehicles were seen around the station.
The NUPENG President, Mr Achese Igwe,
told NAN that the union had to call for the
strike “due to unfair treatment of our
workers by some oil companies which
include Shell Petroleum development
Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Ltd., and
Agip Oil Company.”

He accused the oil companies of unfair
treatment of Nigerian workers through
casualisation and outsourcing of workers,
among other matters.
Igwe said that the leadership of the union
had directed its members at various depots
to stop loading of petroleum products to
press home its demand.
He warned that the union would embark on
an indefinite strike after the three-day
warning strike if government and the
relevant authorities failed to address its
grievances. (NAN)