Fuel scarcity looms as Nupeng threatens nationwide strike

Scarcity of petroleum products looms across the country as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers threatens to embark on a nationwide strike with effect from Wednesday when a 72-hour deadline issued to the Federal Government expires.

The General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr. Elijah Okougbo, said in a communiqué  issued by the union in Abuja on Sunday that the impending strike had to do with disagreement over loan obtained by Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners Association of Nigeria from some banks, to satisfy the demand for fuel importation.

It was learnt that NUPENG was demanding the implementation of a section of an agreement reached with the Federal Government to allow JEPTFON, a subsidiary association, to pay back the loan in 15 years with three percent interest.

He said the Federal Government had ignored implementations of both demands contained in the agreement reached with the union.

The NUPENG general secretary said the union was compelled to issue the ultimatum because the banks were mounting serious pressure on JEPTFON to repay the loan in spite of the agreement reached with the Federal Government.

PUNCH NEWSPAPER