Factional Tanker Drivers’ Union Urges Members to Ignore Directive Not to Lift Products

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The factional leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) yesterday urged its members to ignore a purported instruction by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to halt the lifting of petroleum products in selected depots.

The National Chairman of PTD, Lucky Osesua and the National Secretary, Humble Obinna, in a statement in Abuja, assured the people, government and stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry of their unalloyed commitment to the lifting and distribution of products across the length and breadth of the country.

PTD urged the public to ignore any threat coming from their parent union, NUPENG, not to lift petroleum products from certain depots in the country, adding that Nigeria is bigger than any individual.

It appealed to members of the public not to engage in panic buying, stressing that there were sufficient products made available for distribution at various depots.

Besides, the organisation insisted that the alleged plot to remove Osesua, Yusuf Garga and Obinna as chairman, deputy chairman and secretary of the PTD has failed in its entirety.

Specifically, it said the plan by the group collectively led by Augustine Egbon, Afolabi Olawale, Williams Akporeha and Salimon Oladiti remained “an enterprise in futility.

‘’There is no shortfall in the distribution of petroleum products across the six geo-political zones of the country and PTD under the legitimate leadership of Lucky Osesua and his deputy, Dayyabu Garga has redoubled its commitment to ensure and guarantee lifting and distribution of petroleum products without encumbrance in observance of its statutory responsibility.

“We are also using this medium to set the record straight that we are not former PTD national leaders. Osesua remains and is still the national chairman of PTD, while Dayyabu Garga is the deputy national chairman, alongside Humble Power Obinna, who is currently serving as our national secretary,” the union stated.

The statement said contrary to the misinformation being peddled by their detractors, none of the PTD leadership is an ex-convict, urging their counsel to properly educate them on the doctrines of court contempt and subjudice.

“We further use this medium to dispel any speculation purporting that tanker drivers have been directed to stop the lifting of petroleum products in some depots in the country.

“This is not true, and Nigerians should not as a result of this misinformation engage in panic buying and we strongly assure stakeholders in the petroleum industry’s value chain that PTD is committed to its noble roles of lifting and distribution of products across the country.

“As socially responsible trade unionists, we understand the impact of economic sabotage, especially in an economy like that of Nigeria: therefore, on no condition will PTD be involved in this kind of inhuman and satanic agenda,”  it added.

Stressing that such development could undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic processes, and exacerbate social inequalities and tension, the PTD explained that businesses, livelihoods, and the most vulnerable segments of the society will suffer the consequences of such an action.

“Economic sabotage is a serious crime, and we want DSS to take note and act accordingly. We therefore direct all our members in all the zones across Nigeria not to heed any instruction from NUPENG or anyone else to stop them from the lifting of petroleum products.

“We equally urge Nigerians and motorists to avoid storing of petrol at home because of the dangers associated with it.

“Meanwhile, fuel is available. We have visited many depots and we can confirm loading is going on; there is no cause for alarm. We have instructed our tanker drivers to engage in 24-hour loading activities and lift products from depots to filling stations across the country,” the group said.

The union further reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the federal government’s efforts on effective, efficient and uninterrupted distribution of petroleum products across the country.