Capital Oil Workers Cry For Help

When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. Such is the raging battle between AMCON and Capital Oil and Gas Industries which has caused  uncertainty and hardship  for members of staff of the company.

Speaking with P.M.News, some of the affected workers narrated how difficult it’s been for them to earn their living and feed their families ever since the oil company was shut down by AMCON.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Nnenna Egwunno said the closure has brought hardship as the oil workers now find it difficult to pay their house rents and meet their daily needs.

To further press their agitations, the aggrieved workers on Monday, 3 December, staged a protest at the National Headquarters of Nigeria Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas, NUPENG, Yaba, Lagos,  bearing placards with inscriptions that read: “Who will rescue the staff of Capital Oil from hunger,’’ “Xmas is around the corner,” “We need foodstuffs to feed our family,”  “Fuel scarcity in Nigeria, please re-open Capital Depot.”

In reaction, Chairman, NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Comrade Tokunbo Korodo, said the national body of the union is aware of their plights and that all hands will be on deck to ensure their agitations are addressed.

Also, the Secretary of the union, thanked the workers for staging a peaceful protest and encouraged them not to give up.

On 13 November, a court ordered AMCON to immediately take possession of assets of Capital Oil and Gas Industries due to its alleged indebtedness to AMCON to the tune of N48.014 billion. Capital Oil and Gas Industries was among the 113 companies Central Bank of Nigeria listed to be AMCON’s debtors.

Meanwhile, the House of Representative Committee on Petroleum is reported to have started moves to wade into the matter.

—FEMI AYODELE