Gas scarcity persists; NEPZA berates PENGASSAN strike

Normalcy is yet to return in Lagos and other parts of the country following the scarcity of cooking gas recently experienced as a result of the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Following disruption in supply chain as a result of the strike embarked upon by […]

Normalcy is yet to return in Lagos and other parts of the country following the scarcity of cooking gas recently experienced as a result of the strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

Following disruption in supply chain as a result of the strike embarked upon by the association due to its disagreement with Dangote Refinery, many households have been plunged into crisis with refilling their cooking gas.

Even as the strike has been suspended following the intervention of the federal government, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) yesterday cautioned PENGASSAN against actions that contravene Free Trade Zone (FTZ) regulations, reaffirming that strikes and lockouts are expressly prohibited within such zones for a period of ten years from commencement of operations.

Though gas marketers had assured that normalcy would return this Friday or early next week, the scarcity still persists although the price has not changed at major stations in Lagos.

Mobil Filling stations yesterday reduced the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from N1,300 to N1,100 serving as the lone gas dispenser to both retail sellers and consumers in major places in Lagos.

Daily Trust findings showed that some of the retailers buy from Mobil filling stations and sell outrageously between N2000-N2500 to consumers as the scarcity persists.

Olu Ojeniyi said he waited endlessly with the hope of refilling his cylinder, adding the attendant stopped selling after over three hours of waiting.

“I attempted to first visit the closest refill center to my house. They didn’t have any gas. But the local vendors are selling at 2500.

“Eventually, I visited Mobil but the queue there was long. I saw about 60-70 cylinders there, I waited for about two to three hours or so. Then, the attendant claimed the gas had finished, that we should visit very early the next day to access.”

Peter Ayuba shared similar frustration, stating that he had visited several retail stations without success. He stated that he bought one kg for N1,700 last week which he managed for the week.

 

Cooking Gas scarcity bites harder in Kano

The scarcity of cooking gas is biting harder in Kano as it has become increasingly unavailable even at the LPG plants.

Two of the biggest LPG plants located at Sharada Industrial area: AA Rano and Ultimate Gas were found to have closed their gates to customers.

Another LPG plant belonging to AA Rano at Zaria road was empty, having run out of stock since yesterday.

Alfa Tashir filling station and its refill outlet on Zaria road were also closed on Thursday evening when our reporter visited.

Zainab Sani, a housewife said she personally went to refill her cylinders at both Ultimate Gas and AA Rano but found the two closed.

She said the last time she refilled her 12 kg cylinder the price was N12,000 but learned that the price has risen to between N17, 000 and N18,000 now.

Many cooking gas retail outlets like YMG Fago located on Inuwa Dutse road and MRM Gas at Bawo road Hausawa quarters were forced to close because of non-availability of gas in the last three days.

 

Strikes not allowed at free trade zones – NEPZA

Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has cautioned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against actions that contravene Free Trade Zone (FTZ) regulations, reaffirming that strikes and lockouts are expressly prohibited within such zones for a period of ten years from commencement of operations.

The Authority’s Managing Director, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, stated this in Abuja following reports of escalating industrial tensions and “frequent and excessive external union infiltrations” that have disrupted operations at the Dangote Refinery, the country’s largest private industrial complex.

In a statement signed by Dr. Martins Odeh, Head of Corporate Communications at NEPZA, the agency described the recent shutdown of critical oil and gas facilities by PENGASSAN as unlawful within the context of the Free Trade Zone framework.

PENGASSAN had last week directed its members to down tools over allegations that the Dangote Refinery dismissed about 800 workers who had joined the union. The company, however, denied the figure, maintaining that only a few workers were disengaged “for acts of sabotage” as part of an ongoing organisational restructuring.

Ogunyemi expressed concern over the escalation of the dispute, noting that the refinery’s FTZ status meant that all labour-related grievances should have been channelled through the Authority.

“Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones (NEPZA) Act provides that ‘there shall be no strikes or lock-outs for a period of ten years following the commencement of operations within a Zone, and the Authority shall resolve any trade dispute arising within a Zone,’” he said.

According to him, the provision imposes a 10-year prohibition on strikes and lockouts within Free Zones, while still allowing workers the right to form or join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining.

“We are pleased that the conflict has been de-escalated. Dangote Refinery is a declared FTZ that continues to benefit from tax incentives and customs duty waivers to support the economy, and NEPZA regulates it.

The Free Trade Zone scheme in Nigeria is slightly over 30 years old, and we ought to be familiar with the scheme and the global rules that guide the operation of this world economic model, which aims to accelerate economic development and industrialisation,” he said.

He also drew attention to Section 24(1) of the NEPZA Act, which limits the application of external laws within Free Zones, noting that such laws are only operational to the extent that they do not conflict with NEPZA’s enabling Act.

“Consequently, in cases of conflict between the Trade Unions Act (TUA) or Trade Disputes Act (TDA) and Section 18(5), the provisions of Section 18(5) take precedence as the more specific regulation governing Free Zones,” he stated.