By: Felix Ikpotor
Lifting and sale of premium motor spirit and other petroleum products has continued in Port Harcourt following the suspension of the planned strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state.
The strike action was billed to commence Monday in Rivers State over the seizure of trucks belonging to members of the unions by the personnel of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army.
To this end, the unions have ordered immediate lifting and sale of petroleum products in the state, following a peace meeting brokered by the Rivers State Government and a subsequent agreement reached with the military authorities of 6 Division, Bori Camp, Monday morning.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Peter Medee, told newsmen, that the agreement was brokered in the early hours of yesterday thereby putting an end to the proposed strike by the petroleum marketers.
PHSpectator reports that the petroleum marketers raised the alarm over what they described as incessant seizure of their trucks by operatives of the Nigerian Army.
Their complaint was contained in a joint statement by IPMAN Chairman in Rivers State, Obele Ngei Chu and the Chairman of the Licensed Petrol Station Owners (LIPSO) in Rivers State, Sunny Nkpe.
Both Chu and Nkpe had accused the Army of arresting their men and impounding their trucks, noting that over 14 trucks loaded with petroleum products were in the custody of the Army, just as they threatened to withdraw their services from Monday (yesterday) if their trucks were not released by midnight.
But Medee said after a meeting with the various unions and a separate meeting with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army; the latter agreed to release the trucks.
“This morning (Monday), we have been able to reach an agreement with NUPENG, Tanker Drivers Association (TDA), IPMAN, LIPSO and all other unions that were involved in this disagreement. As I speak with you now, I am right in the midst of another meeting that we convened this morning, and the strike has been called off.
“And every station owner and every activity of their related sector have been asked to go ahead. The national leadership of NUPENG spoke with me this morning that they have been able to talk to their members and that the strike will no longer hold.
“I am here now with some key leadership of the unions in the state. I am here with the chairman of IPMAN in the state. I am also here with the zonal chairman of the tanker drivers and we have agreed in principle to suspend the strike.
“That is because last night (Sunday), after our meeting, we had another meeting with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, who has graciously agreed to release all the trucks that were in dispute to me to hand over to them, and also, all other matters that relate to their grievances have already been addressed.
“So, I can tell you now that we are happy and Rivers people need to be happy because they have a governor, who is determined to ensure that everything that is done in Rivers State will go on smoothly. We have the capacity to resolve all the differences, and that is what the state government has done this morning,” the commissioner stated.
Asked if this will put an end to the continued harassment of the unions by the men in uniform, Medee said, “You know before now, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources was not manned. The Task Force on Petroleum Products has been dissolved by the governor. So, we are trying to do everything to ensure that everybody is on the same page.
“So, the lapses and the gaps that were created was a situation where the critical sector under this ministry was not properly coordinated. So, within the period, a lot issues and challenges cropped up. And that is what we have been trying to solve one after the other for the past four weeks.
“So, I can assure you that the issue that has to do with the Task Force of Rivers State, we are talking with the other organs of the state government and all other differences have completely been resolved today.
“But as I speak with you, the problem they have with the security agencies, last night, we had a late meeting with the GOC, 6 Division, the director of State Security Service (SSS) and all the team leaders of the security agencies. We were able to come to an understanding.
