*The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria directs its members to stop planned shutdown of operations over unpaid N100 billion bridging claims, as NUPENG and the Lagos State Government engage in talks over towed trucks

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed members to halt shutting down their operations over the unpaid N100 billion bridging claims.

绿帽献妻 learnt the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also, disclosed it is engaging the Lagos State Government (LASG) on resolving the ongoing issue of harassment and towed trucks.

It is recalled the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Monday, February 24, 2025, had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay the bridging claims totalling N100 billion owed fuel marketers, or face industrial action.

Bridging claims, like the Equalisation Fund, are described as the cost of transporting fuel from the government depots to approved zones to ensure a uniform oil price for energy consumers across Nigeria.

Following an emergency National Executive meeting of the Association Tuesday, February 25, PETROAN informed its members to embrace dialogue to resolve the outstanding bridging claims issue with NMDPRA.

Joseph Obele, Spokesman of PETROAN, reportedly confirmed the latest directive resulted from the emergency National Executive meeting.

Obele stated: “While acknowledging the frustration and concerns of its members regarding the unpaid bridging claims totalling N100 billion, PETROAN firmly believes that a shutdown would have devastating consequences, including fuel scarcity, economic disruption and hardship for the Nigerian people.”

Why NUPENG prefers to negotiate with Lagos Government: Secretary

NUPENG also noted the negotiation aims to prevent disruptions in fuel distribution network, which could lead to widespread fuel scarcity across the West African country.

Speaking on the development Tuesday, in Lagos, Olawale Afolabi, General Secretary of NUPENG, in a media chat, told reporters that the union had withdrawn its services in response to the recent attacks and arrests of tanker drivers by security personnel from the Lagos State Government.

Afolabi reassured all that the situation would be resolved with the state authorities and that the towed trucks would be released to the union as promised by the government.

Likewise, Tayo Aboyeji, Chairman of NUPENG, Lagos State Branch, confirmed that the service withdrawal option was in response to the reported harassment, maltreatment, and arrests of tanker drivers by security personnel in Lagos.

He, however, said the union had instructed tanker drivers to not operate at nights so as as to avoid accidents and hijackings in transit.

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