Long queues return as oil workers strike again

The workers demand for the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill, overhauling of the oil sector, maintenance of refineries and adoption of measures against the alleged unfair labour practices by some oil companies.They first demanded that their representatives who were dismissed by oil companies should be reinstated, but later expanded their demands to now include […]

The workers demand for the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill, overhauling of the oil sector, maintenance of refineries and adoption of measures against the alleged unfair labour practices by some oil companies.
They first demanded that their representatives who were dismissed by oil companies should be reinstated, but later expanded their demands to now include complaints on government’s handling of oil refineries which they said had fallen into disrepair, even as  the poor state of the country’s roads  hinder oil transportation. Our reporter who monitored filling stations in some parts of Abuja, including Gudu District, said there were long queues at the AP and Oando filling stations while AYM Shaffa did not dispense fuel at all. The NNPC mega station in Gudu did not dispense petrol to motorists despite repeated appeals from them.
Also at the Oando filling station opposite Dutse Alhaji along Kubwa expressway, the long queue caused traffic hold-up. A filling station attendant was seen adjusting meters at the station above N97 per litre.   
At the Abuja Central Business District, the situation was similar as the popular Total filling station close to the NNPC Towers was blocked by vehicles queuing to re-fill while Conoil did not dispense fuel.
Daily Trust also gathered that motorists faced similar challenges at most filling stations outside the city centre. Black marketers resurfaced as early as 8am around most of the stations visited yesterday. A motorist said he bought a litre of petrol at N200 early yesterday. Motorists expressed disgust at the development, with an appeal to the oil workers to soft-pedal on their action in view of the approaching festive season. Many Nigerians travel home for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Meanwhile, the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has assured members of the public that the three-day strike will not dislocate its distribution and sale of fuel to them.
The corporation said in a statement yesterday that it was discussing with the leadership of the workers unions who gave the assurance that they would not disrupt fuel supply and distribution. The NNPC and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) said they had over 32 days stock of petroleum products for supply across the country during the yuletide and beyond.
The NNPC said 17 petroleum-laden vessels were by yesterday, at the Lagos Port, waiting to discharge to the various depots for onward distribution across the country. It further assured the public that everything was being done to ensure that there is no hitch in the supply system. It cautioned against panic-buying or stockpiling of petroleum products which could cause  queues or fire accidents, warning marketers to desist from hoarding or diversion. But the workers said the strike would affect oil production. “We’ve commenced the strike, it will affect oil production, since all operations are on strike,” Pengassan chief, Babatunde Oke, told Reuters.
However, an oil executive told Reuters that the strike was not expected to affect output, because it would require the co-operation of large number of workers at production sites who would be unwilling to go that far.
He said:“It’s very difficult to shut them down, and once they do, it would take them a week to get them back up. They never do it. That’s the last thing anyone wants.”
Petrol sells for N120pl in Katsina
Petrol sold for between N110 and N120 per litre as the strike began in Katsina yesterday.  Most major marketers closed for business while the few independent marketers that opened sold at different prices. Black marketers and other roadside vendors sold at about N170 per litre. Long queues were seen at all the stations. Prices of commodities, especially vegetables, fruits and other perishable items slightly increased with sellers attributing the rise to cost of transportation. A motorist, Lawal Sa’idu, lamented why fuel-related problems continued to confront the nation, attributing it to bad leadership. Mu’azu Elazeh, a resident, said while other countries were reducing prices of petroleum products due to the drop in the world oil market, Nigeria is doing the opposite.
Filling stations adjust prices in Taraba
Filling stations in Taraba State adjusted their pump prices upwards as the strike raged on yesterday. Most filling stations in Jalingo, the state capital, sold at N110 per litre instead of the official pump price of N97. Our correspondent observed that while some of the filling stations did not open for business, others that opened sold above the official price. Motorists and commuters who spoke on the development blamed oil marketers for always finding a way to go on strike during festive seasons, especially Christmas.
“Why is that they will always go on strike during the festive season when many people are preparing to travel for the Christmas celebrations, they are doing this just to make more money and make people suffer”, a motorist said, urging the government and the oil workers to resolve their differences to prevent hardships during the period.
Panic buying in Kwara
Motorists in Kwara State stormed filling stations to fill their tanks. Many filling stations were closed yesterday while a few which dispensed fuel in Ilorin had long queues. Motorists and motorcyclists popularly called okada riders scrambled to buy fuel. Our correspondent who monitored the situation in Ilorin metropolis reports that many filling stations stopped dispensing fuel on the pretext that they had run out of stock. Filling stations along the popular Asa Dam road in Ilorin were closed while only the NNPC mega station dispensed fuel. There was long queue also  at Fossil and Total filling stations which are major petroleum marketers along New Yidi road Ilorin.
State chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association (IPMAN) Mr. Abdulrasheed Olopade attributed the scarcity to the petroleum workers’ strike.
Maximum compliance in Lagos
There was maximum compliance in Lagos with the build up of queues at major filling stations in the city. There are fears that the scarcity will bite harder today as the stations dispensing the product yesterday might have exhausted their stock and will not be able to load products from depots due to the strike. PENGASSAN official, Babatunde Oke, told our reporter that government had invited the two workers’ bodies for a meeting in Abuja today Tuesday by 11am. He said the meeting was at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.