Even after the Federal Government intervention and after work has since commenced in all parts of the county, some petroleum tank farms operating in Lagos State are yet to recover fully following last weeks’ one day strike action that was embarked on by the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Prior to the strike, some of the independent marketers had sold up their available stocks while some decided to rely on the market forces of demand and supply before ordering for fresh supplies. Investigations carried out showed that not less than 100 trucks are usually loaded from each depot on a daily basis and these tank farms are merely trying to avoid the incurable loss the action will bring.
However, after the strike was shelved, petroleum tankers have again besieged tank farms especially those operating at Ibafon and Kirikiri axis of Apapa which is the main hub of petroleum supply and loading in the country.
But Shipping Position Weekly correspondent who was on ground last week confirmed that while many were redundant or practically locked up, not more than two tank farms; Integrated Oil and Gas as well as Zenon Oil are working to serve the long queue of tankers.
An executive of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) who spoke with our correspondent explained that depots are not so sure of what to do because even the filling stations intend to join the strike immediately it started. “We have aligned with NLC on this one because our members work under government too and once we go on strike, the filling stations that are also part of the union will also pull out so that the effect can be total”, he explained.
Justifying the uncertainties, he stressed: “So you can see the reason why there is no product in some depots even though the gates are open, nobody will want to run at a loss, first of all the market is not yet fully deregulated, only the AGO is deregulated, and marketers will watch the market before they import”.
Despite the low level of supply in Lagos, our source confirmed that more trucks are beginning to come into Lagos from the Northern part of the country, specifically Plateau State following a three- day strike that was embarked upon by filling stations and tanker drivers in the state last week.
Our correspondent gathered that a member of the petroleum tanker driver (PTD) branch of NUPENG Muhamadu Sa’idu was killed in the state following a disagreement with a soldier. This development, according to our source has caused the union to issue seven days ultimatum to the Chief of Defense Staff and Chief of Army Staff to look into the matter, in addition to demand for N50million as compensation from the Federal government.
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