PENGASSAN/NUPENG Strike: Don't Divert Petroleum Products, Stop Panic Buying, NNPC Warns,

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has warned petroleum product marketers to desist from hoarding or diverting as a result of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, warning strike. While assuring members of the public that the current three-day warning strike action embarked upon by members of PENGASSAN, NUPENG, will not disrupt distribution of petroleum products to the public.

In a statement issued by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, the NNPC advised fuel consumers to avoid panic buying or stock piling of petroleum products as that could lead to needless queues or cause fire accidents that could lead to loss of lives and property.

“The Corporation also advised marketers to desist from hoarding or diversion of petroleum products as any marketer caught in the act would be sanctioned.”

The NNPC gave the assurance yesterday against the backdrop of long queues of vehicles that resurfaced at most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and its environs on account of the strike announced by the unions.

The corporation noted that “it was in talks with the leadership of the unions who gave the assurance that they would not disrupt the fuel supply and distribution system as the strike was basically aimed at addressing the anti-labour issues by some of the International Oil Companies, IOCs."

The statement stated that the Corporation and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, has over 32 days stock of petroleum products available for supply across the nation during the Yuletide season and beyond, adding that 17 additional petroleum laden vessels are at the Lagos Port waiting to discharge to the various depots for onward distribution to members of the public.

The statement assures that the Corporation is doing everything to ensure that there was no hitch whatsoever in the supply of petroleum products that could bring any form of hardship to motorists and those who intend to travel during this Yuletide season.