Nigeria's petrol marketers suspend strike

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The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA) has called off its planned three days strike over non-payment of subsidy claims by the Federal Government.

Mr. Dapo Abiodun, the President of the association said this in Lagos on Saturday in a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“We have been reliably informed by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) that the Federal Ministry of Finance has requested for all verified subsidy claims for processing and immediate payment.

“This followed a meeting held with stakeholders on 27 July.

“As an association made up of responsible and patriotic Nigerians, in the best interest of Nigerian public, we do accept and take it in good faith that the government will live up to the promises made at the meeting,’’ Abiodun said.

He urged members of the association to resume supply and distribution of products from their depots across the country with immediate effect.

The association on Monday gave 48-hours ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay their subsidy claims.

Meanwhile, tanker drivers have suspended loading of petroleum products in Ejigbo and Mosinmi depots following the ongoing strike by oil marketers over non-payment of subsidy claims.

The drivers said loading of the product was suspended following instruction by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

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Mr Tokunbo Korodo, the NUPENG Chairman, Western Zone said the strike was called because of the Federal Government’s failure to pay subsidy claims and the poor state of the nation’s refineries.

Mr Sani Adamu, a tanker driver at Ejigbo depot said: “I came all the way from Lokoja since yesterday to load petrol but we are instructed by NUPENG to join the strike by oil marketers over non-payment of subsidy claims.

“I hope that by Monday both marketers and government will reach a compromise to avert fuel scarcity in the country,’’ he said.

Another tanker driver, Mr Salisu Garba, told NAN at the depot that his company had paid for the product he came to load in Lagos but was caught in the midst of the strike.

“I cannot go back to the North empty without the product and I am even paying for the parking space here which is not part of what I bargained for,” the tanker driver said.

He expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved before Monday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, ome depot owners in Apapa have also stopped loading petroleum products while some filling stations in Epe and Ikorodu have been shut due to lack of supply.

Mr Fidelis Pepple, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs, told NAN in a text message that “the corporation will issue a statement soon on the matter.’’

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