PENGASSAN Strike: The Worst Fuel Crisis May Hit Nigeria By Wednesday

The ongoing strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria spells doom for Nigeria and its citizens should the strike be allowed to continue.

The strike action which began on Thursday has crippled loading of petroleum products from the Apapa depots where many marketers bank on as their source of stock.

According to reports, should the ongoing strike be allowed to linger till Wednesday, most depots in Apapa, Lagos state will run dry of fuel stock.

Due to the absence of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Board workers at the ports, fuel distribution has been limited to Lagos and other South-Western states which require no payment of bridging funds controlled by the PEF.

An official of an independent marketing company in Lagos while speaking with news agency, Punch said: “Terminal owners can only load what is in their tanks, but they cannot receive any product now from vessels. If they finish what is in their tanks now and bring in any vessel, the Department of Petroleum Resources is not going to certify it for discharge. They do a lot of tests on any product that comes to Apapa.

“That is how it is going to affect the supply in Lagos if the strike lingers on. Depots in Apapa should finish their stock on or before Wednesday. I don’t see any depot that will still have stock after Wednesday in Apapa.”

The Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Rivers State chapter, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, also on the ongoing PENGASSAN strike said: “I think the main impact will be this week when production facilities, export terminals and gas supply to power plants will be shut down. It will affect the government’s revenue significantly. I pray we don’t get to that extent, because the economy is already in a bad shape.

“That is why the government should act fast and engage the union to resolve the issues.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Friday cautioned members of the public against embarking on any form of panic purchase of petroleum products in anticipation of scarcity due to the ongoing strike”.