FUEL SCARCITY LOOMS AS NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT OWNERS WITHDRAWS PETROL TRUCKS.
Written by admin on September 22, 2020
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has ordered all its members to withdraw trucks especially petrol tankers nationwide today 22nd and tomorrow 23rd of September 2020.
NARTO’s directive was in protest to the order of the Federal Government, banning tankers with 45,000-litre capacity from lifting petroleum products in the country. The transporters are also issuing a 10-day strike notice to the Federal Government effective September 24, 2020 over the issue.
National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, said the association received with shock the recent government’s decision to place immediate ban on all petroleum trucks above 45,000-litre capacity from plying Nigerian roads. Othman said the Federal Government did not consult with transport owners before taking the decision, adding that the government also did not give them reasonable time to prepare for the implementation of the policy.
He described the sudden ban as highly insensitive and unappreciative of the efforts and contribution of NARTO members as businessmen and investors in the very critical and sensitive distribution and supply chains of petroleum products across the country.
There has been increasing fears among Nigerians that should NARTO go ahead on the proposed strike, fuel scarcity will set in, a situation that may cause a further hike in prices of commodities in the market, thereby worsening the already harsh effect of the corona virus pandemic on the people.
