The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has distanced itself from the proposed strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its affiliates.
Recall that NUPENG had on Friday announced that it would begin an industrial action on September 8 (today) because of the plan by Dangote Petroleum Refinery to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for direct fuel distribution to retailers.
The distribution of petroleum products to end users is aimed at eliminating logistics costs, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainability, and supporting Nigeria’s economic development.
Although the scheme, earlier scheduled to begin on August 15, was delayed by logistics challenges in China, the refinery said it would start once a substantial number of the trucks arrived.
NUPENG, however, viewed the direct distribution plan as a threat to the livelihoods of members of its Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, more so as the management of the refinery insisted that new drivers for the imported trucks would not be allowed to join any union.
It recalled that it had held several meetings, alongside the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to persuade Dangote to reconsider. However, its appeals were allegedly ignored.
The matter got to its climax when MRS oil firm, owned by Dangote’s cousin, Mr Sayyu Dantata, reportedly began the recruitment of drivers for the CNG truck and compelled them to sign undertakings not to belong to any oil and gas union.
Consequently, the union said its members would stop fuel loading nationwide from Monday (today) if the situation remained unresolved.
Reacting to the development, the national president of ADITOP, Mr Lawan Dan-Zaki, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
Dan-Zaki, while stating that the purported strike was uncalled for, added that his association was in support of Dangote’s new petroleum products distribution scheme.
He said that Dangote’s transformational efforts would not only sanitise the industry but would further stabilise both supply and distribution, while providing jobs and new skills to millions of unemployed Nigerians.
“We, members of ADITOP, hereby inform the general public and the federal government that we dissociate ourselves from any intended strike or disruption by NUPENG and its cohorts.
“We intend to continue moving petroleum products across the country without fear of molestation.
“ADITOP is in support of any petroleum products distribution scheme aimed at distributing products to the end users seamlessly and promoting economic development,’’ he stated
