Fuel Scarcity Hits Hard in Abuja, as NUPENG Begins Strike

It was once believed that maybe, just maybe the Nigeria populace has seen the last of fuel scarcity and long queues, but it seems like long fuel queues have again resurfaced in most filling stations in Abuja following a three-day warning strike embarked upon by  the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG).

NUPENG started the strike on Monday to press home its demand for what it termed unfair labour practices by some oil companies toward its workers.

While visiting some major filling stations in the FCT on Monday, chaos was the order of the day as motorists jostled to get fuel.

For instance, at the popular NNPC Mega Station in the Central Area, the queue had resulted in partial blockage of the adjoining road and a horrendous traffic jam.

Some motorists at the filling station had expressed dismay at the development, with a call on the relevant government agencies to immediately step in to address the situation.

The situation was also not different at the Conoil Filling Station, Central Area, opposite the NNPC Towers as long queues of vehicles were seen around the station.

When contacted, the NUPENG President, Mr Achese Igwe, told newsmen that the union had to call for the strike “due to unfair treatment of our workers by some oil companies which include Shell Petroleum development Company (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Ltd., and Agip Oil Company.”

He accused the oil companies of unfair treatment of Nigerian workers through casualization and outsourcing of workers, among other matters.

Mr Achese Igwe said that the leadership of the union had directed its members at various depots to stop loading of petroleum products to press home its demand.

He warned that the union would embark on an indefinite strike after the three-day warning strike if government and the relevant authorities failed to address its grievances.

At this time, the Nigerian state cannot afford to sit back and watch, because when “two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”. We need to speak out to forestall the spread of this crisis.