Petroleum Tanker Drivers Begin Strike As Talks With Govt End In Deadlock

Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State on Monday withdrew their services as directed by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

Recall that on Friday NUPENG threatened an industrial action over the ill treatment of its drivers.

The challenges include extortion of money from the drivers by various security agents; the menace of containerized trucks at Apapa, Kirikiri, and Beach Land axis areas of the state.

However on Monday morning the State Chairman, NUPENG, Tayo Aboyeji confirmed that the tanker drivers have commenced the industrial action.

Aboyeji said that the strike began in the early hours of Monday following breakdown in negotiations between the State Government and the union.

He said, “Although, we met with the state government yesterday night (August 9), yet we could not reach an agreement.

”So, only the tanker drivers in Lagos State proceeded with the strike, because the environment is not conducive for tankers to operate

“They only promised to get back to us after we have told them what we want to avert the strike.

“Now, our stand still remains that they should address the issues of extortion and harassment of our members by security agents.

“Security agents and hoodlums are extorting our members and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management use taser on our drivers and this can kill.

“It is unfortunate that the strike might affect all other states in the federation because most of them load their petroleum products in Lagos depots.

”We are not happy to disrupt fuel supply because we know the effect but we cannot continue to cope with the problems.”