Fuel tanker drivers under the umbrella body, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have suspended their strike in Lagos State.
The suspension followed a meeting between the leadership of the union and representatives of the state government on Monday.
Some of the challenges faced by tanker drivers in the state such as security agencies, ‘area boys’, ad-hoc levies, bad roads, overloading, the timing of movement, and coordination, formed the major issues discussed at the meeting.
A communique jointly signed by the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote, and the Deputy National President of NUPENG, Solomon Kilanko, issued at the end of the meeting, contained the seven agreements reached by the union and the government which led to the suspension of the strike.
According to the communique, the meeting resolved that the state government would meet with the heads of all security agencies and secure their commitment to ensuring the free passage of petroleum products vehicles given their importance to the economy.
They also agreed to ask relevant government agencies to decisively deal with the menace of ‘area boys’ and establish a dedicated phone number within the next week, to ensure that petroleum products transporters have prompt access to security agencies.
The meeting further resolved to investigate extra-ordinary levies by a particular local government and ask local government authorities to only collect legally approved levies.
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On the issue of bad roads, the state government said it would continue to relate with all road users in the planning and execution of road works in the state.
Lagos State also promised to, within the next one week, review the restriction of the timing of movement of the petroleum tankers and advise a resolution to ease access to the tank farms.
This is as the union noted that the ongoing road works constituted a temporary inhibition of movement.
NUPENG promised to ensure all tankers were loaded within the capacities provided for in the regulation and communicated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
According to the statement, Lagos State government pledged to immediately set up a standing committee to relate with the union on an ongoing basis to address any issues as they arise.
