Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
In a recent statement from the national secretariat of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the union has issued a warning that it may instruct its members to withdraw their trucks from the depots. Augustine Egbon, the National Chairman of the union, announced this decision in Abuja, expressing frustration over what he described as the excessive actions of a taskforce established by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
During its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the union urged the Inspector General to mitigate the heavy-handed activities of the task force, particularly its practice of impounding tankers on federal highways. Egbon highlighted that two trucks loaded with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, were improperly seized by this taskforce in Funtua, Katsina State, and Abuja between July and August.
According to Egbon, despite presenting valid documentation proving the trucks’ loading locations and certifications from regulatory agencies, the Inspector General’s office has refused to acknowledge this evidence and has continued to hold the trucks. He pointed out that one truck, registered GRY 155XA, was loaded with 49,000 litres of AGO at Prudent Energy Limited in Oghara, Delta State, destined for Sokoto, but was intercepted in Funtua on July 31, 2024. The second truck, with registration number TWD272XA, contained 45,000 litres of AGO, loaded at Integrated Oil & Gas in Apapa, Lagos, headed for Yobe State, and was seized in August in Abuja.
Egbon expressed his discontent, noting that samples from both trucks were certified by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), yet the police remain unyielding and have not released the loaded vehicles. He pointed out that the situation has become untenable, and after several attempts to engage with the Inspector General’s office, the union is left with no choice but to consider action.
“We have provided authentic documents showing that the products are genuine and disclosed the points of loading. Unfortunately, the Inspector General’s office continues to disregard our appeals,” Egbon stated. “We recently set a deadline for the release of the impounded trucks and an end to the harassment of our members. Our contributions aim to support the federal government in ensuring the availability of petroleum products and alleviating the hardships faced by Nigerians.”
He added, “It’s regrettable that the Inspector General’s office appears indifferent to the risks posed by their officers’ overreach, which undermines the government’s efforts to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products and maintain peace in our industry. We are now issuing a two-week notice. If our demands are not met, we will halt the loading of products from the depots.”
