Petrol tanker drivers boycott Enugu state

Nigeria’s Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union has stopped the supply of products to Enugu State following the failure of the state government to pay compensation for a demolished filling station.

The Chairman of the union in the state, Mr Friday Nweke, said in Enugu on Monday that the government demolished a filling station belonging to the union during the expansion of a road in the coal city.

“In 2011, the state government demolished a filling station jointly owned by the union and Cimeco Investments in Coal Camp while expanding the road.

“During a meeting with the state government last year, it promised to compensate us but up till now, the government has not done anything.

“We are urging the government to give us another place to build a new station,’’ he said.

Nweke said the national body of the union suspended the supply of petroleum products to the state pending the government’s reaction to its demand.

“No depot in Nigeria is supplying fuel to Enugu State until the government compensates us,’’ he said.

The state’s Commissioner for Inter-ministerial Affairs, Mr Dan Anike, said the government had approved N10 million to the affected company.

“A committee was set up to look into the appeal for compensation. The approval of N10 million has been given as payment for compensation for the company, Cimeco.

“We have communicated to the union about the approval by the acting governor. So they are supposed to have rescinded their plan.

“We held a meeting with the NNPC Depot Manager and the PTD chairman where I presented the approval letter and they agreed to call off the strike.

“The action of the government is for the overall interest of the public because it is something that is beneficial to the people,’’ he said. NAN reports that the price of fuel in the state has risen from N120 to between N125 and N130 per litre, apparently due to the development.

Reported by NAN