By: Felix Ikpotor
Fuel scarcity occasioned by the strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is taking a hard toll on residents of the state as price of transportation in some part have tremendously increased.
This is even as some residents say they are now buying the product at 350 naira per liter.
Our correspondent who monitored the situation in parts of Port Harcourt metropolis said almost every filling station is locked down, stressing that the only ones selling are those owned by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
NUPENG while announcing the withdrawal of the services of its truck yesterday said they will resume lifting the product when the state government, relevant stakeholders and agencies will work towards the release of NUPENG trucks, drivers and conductors who are still in the Nigerian Army detention.
NUPENG National Treasurer, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, who stated this, said the Union decided to withdraw its truck drivers from operation in order to avoid further arrests and detention by security agencies.
According to him, the pathetic situation was avoidable as the Union did its best to prevent the sudden fuel scarcity which will cause untold hardship to residents of the state.
“The situation was avoidable and unfortunate one. All the same, efforts are being made to resolve it.
” We have asked our members to relax pending when issues are resolved, let all the Stakeholders, agencies, state government make an effort to see that our NUPENG trucks, drivers and conductors arrested are released.
“We withdrew the services of our truck drivers in order to avoid further arrests and detention by security agencies”
On his part, National Public Relation Officer of NUPENG, Comrade Chinedu Ukadike, said the decision reached on 16th February for security agencies and the State governments to release the union’s trucks in detention by 17th February is yet to be carried out, stressing that it is the reason for their withdrawal of services.
“It is quite unfortunate that the public misinterpreted what we did. We did not shut down, we just decided to withdraw our services so that people will understand the burden we marketers are bearing in terms of distributing petroleum products in the state. The incessant harassment of security agencies and government officials on our personnel, equipment and trucks is unbearable.
“We agreed on 16th February to commence our services in line with the agreement reached by security agencies, Rivers State government, the Union, but up till now they are yet to meet that agreement of releasing our trucks, drivers and conductors in detention”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that there is an ongoing meeting between the state government and various unions involved in the crisis.
