The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Friday urged motorists not to engage in panic petrol buying, a day after a trade union representing oil workers began a strike that raised fears of future fuel shortages
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Thursday said 10,000 of its members, which included refinery workers and office staff, had begun industrial action over issues “critical to the survival” of the country’s energy sector.
A statement signed by Alhaji Garba Deen Muhammad, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs division, on Friday in Abuja, said the Corporation had commenced talks with the leaders of the industrial unions to address their grievances.
“The corporation has in stock enough products to satisfy local consumption requirements for the next 45 days,” said Muhammad.
“There is no need for motorists and other users of petroleum products to embark on frenzied wholesale purchase of fuel in anticipation of scarcity,” he added.
He assured that the corporation was doing everything possible to guarantee that the prevailing sanity in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country which was achieved with the recent downstream liberation policy was sustained.
PENGASSAN said it decided to strike over issues such as joint venture funding and cash call arrears, which it said had stalled the creation of new jobs and investment in the sector.