Fuel scarcity looms as oil workers begin nationwide strike

The nationwide strike by oil workers led to long fuel queues in the Federal Capital Territory,   Benue, Kwara and Plateau states as hundreds of motorists besieged the few filing stations that sold petrol on Monday.In Lagos, the situation was normal until the evening when our correspondents noticed   queues in many stations in the city.But the development slowed down commercial activities in the Federal Capital Territory where many commuters were stranded for hours at various   bus stops...

One of our correspondents visited some ministries and agencies and observed that their often crowded car parks   were virtually empty.An official of the Federal Ministry of Environment, who gave his name simply as Nnamdi, said, “This strike came as a surprise. I was lucky to make it to work this(Monday) morning and you can see that the place is virtually empty. Many   workers are stranded because many   stations had no fuel to sell     due to the   strike by   oil and gas workers.”Black market operators   cashed in on the scarcity   by selling the product in jerrycans on the major roads and streets in the FCT at prices above the pump price of N97.The situation was the same in Makurdi, Gboko, Kastina – Ala, Oturkpo and Ukum Local Government Areas of   Benue State, where motorists paid between N105 and N135 instead   of N97. On the streets, the product sold for as much as   N200 per litre.Commercial drivers and private car owners   told our correspondent in the state that the scarcity would cause untold hardship to the people, especially as Christmas approaches.

Our correspondent in Kwara State observed that over 90 per cent of the filling stations in llorin which were selling fuel before 8am on Monday, suddenly locked their entrance .The   managers of the filling stations   declined comments but   surprised motorists described their action as shocking.

One of the motorists, Kunle Ajana, said, “What I am witnessing here now is surprising. Some of my friends bought fuel in the morning and I am surprised that I cannot find anywhere to buy now.”

In Jos, Plateau State, there were also long queues in the afternoon at most of the filling stations which initially sold petrol in the morning.At the   Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Mega station in the city, the queue stretched   to about two kilometres, thereby causing traffic congestion along the major high-ways in the city.However, motorists in Oyo and Delta states did not experience any difficulty as   most stations were seen dispensing fuel.At the NNPC depot in Apata, Ibadan,   normal activities   went on even as black market operators still sold fuel at N90 per litre instead of   N97.

An attendant in one of the fuel stations in Boluwaji area of Ibadan told The PUNCH that there was no instruction from the owner of the station to them to stop selling petroleum products.“The owner of this place is in Lagos. We called him to take instruction   concerning the scarcity but he said that we should continue to   sell fuel. We took delivery of 33,000 litres on Saturday so we have plenty of petrol in our tanks,” he said.Our correspondent in Delta State   learnt that junior workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas did not join in the strike.The NNPC depot in Warri did not close down as petroleum marketers loaded their trucks with ease on Monday.

When one of our correspondents visited the NNPC Ejigbo depot in Lagos on Monday afternoon,loading activities were also going on.The Lagos Zonal Chairman, PENGASSAN, Mr. Abel Agarin,   said, “The people you saw at Ejigbo are NUPENG members who were allowed to load. But immediately we got there, workers from the PEF who were signing their documents and the DPR workers were asked to stop working.”He said that some tankers that loaded earlier in the day at the depot were   allowed to move out   because of the danger they   posed if left there.Agarin added, “In Lagos, most depots were shut and there was no loading. After Ejigbo depot, we went to Mobil on Mobil Road. We also visited Oando loading bay. At the Apapa depot and those owned by Mobil and Oando, there was total compliance.   There was   work by NUPENG members at Total depot which was later stopped in the course of the day.“But by tomorrow (today), I believe that loading activities would not take place there.In the early hours of Monday, trucks were seen loading products at Apapa depots in Lagos but at a reduced pace. Our correspondent gathered from oil marketers that the Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of NUPENG in the state were yet to join the strike.

PUNCH.