By Mbafan Ade (BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT) –
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has called on Petroleum Tanker Drivers to call off its planned strike action , in the interest and welfare of the Nigerian people.
The strike is about the condition of roads in various parts of Nigeria which are used for the distribution of goods and services including petroleum products.
But the Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, in a statement, noted that even though it was not the responsibility of the Corporation to build or rehabilitate roads, “any disruption in the distrubution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC and endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyted for a long time now.”
In recognition of this, he said, the NNPC was assuring the Petroleum Tanker Drivers that “in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.”
He added that having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC had expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.
According to Muhammed, “the thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through it Future Tax Liability.NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest.”
Accordingly, “we urge PTD to immediately call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all,” he said.
The statement also strongly advise Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products “as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive season and beyond.”
