NUPENG Strike: NNPC Promises Investment In Road Rehabilitation

• Begs Tanker drivers to shelve Monday’s action

BY VICTOR BUORO – Less than 24 hours to the commencement of strike called by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to protest the deplorable state roads nationwide, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has pleaded with Petroleum Tanker Drivers to suspend the planned action.

To back up its appeal, the nation’s oil giants pledged to invest in the rehabilitation of critical roads across the country in response to NUPENG’s demands.

In a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, the NNPC urged the drivers to have a rethink on their threat in the interest and welfare of the people.

The statement released on Sunday said; “Though it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate roads, any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC and endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed for a long time now.

“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the Petroleum Tanker Drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.

“Having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC has expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme”.

According to the NNPC spokesman; “Thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through its Future Tax Liability. NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest.”

The Corporation, therefore, pleaded with the Drivers “to immediately call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all”, adding; “We also wish to strongly advise Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive seasoned and beyond”.

In threatening to embark on the nationwide strike, NUPENG claimed that it took about five to six days for a petrol tanker to move from Lagos to Abuja due to the “shameful state of the roads”.

The planned strike by NUPENG is scheduled to commence on Monday, October 11, 2021.