NUPENG: How to end fuel scarcity

The  Nigerian Union of  Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG), has proffered solutions to the lingering shortage in the supply of petrol, even as the union alerts that the  disruption is fast crippling socio economic activities in the country.
In a  position paper  that was sent to the  minister of state for petroleum and energy, Odein Ajumogobia and which was jointly signed by  the union’s President and General Secretary, Comrades Igwe Achese and Elijah Okougbo respectively, NUPENG  called for a concerted effort to urgently address the situation before it gets out of hand.
In the 18- point ‘road map’ to solving the problem, NUPENG urged government to urgently repair the nation’s four refineries “so that they can produce at optimum capacity and at least meet 80 percent of local consumption demand of the petroleum products market” This according to he union, will reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks involved in downstream transactions, but called for the political will to do it..
Apart from repairing the refineries, the union also called for construction of new refineries. “The federal government should build more refineries through public-private-sector participation while fixing the existing ones. The government should increase security surveillance on the NNPC/PPMC pipeline right of way to stem further vandalisation and carry out regular maintenance to reduce the frequency of pipeline rupture.
The union also suggested that “the bad roads in the country should be repaired, now that we are in the dry season. If the roads are rehabilitated, there will be fewer accidents and products distribution will be more efficient. We note that Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is under- funded and must therefore be well funded and NUPENG should be on the board of the corporation as a part of the originators of the plan to set up the organization.
The power generating sets in the refineries, NNPC/PPMC depots all over the country should be changed to modern ones. The vandalised Chanomi creeks pipelines and ruptured pipelines across the country should be immediately fixed for adequate product supply movements. NNPC should ensure that those pipelines are in good condition and well maintained.”
 There is also the need to adhere to benchmark prices of petroleum products which should be strictly enforced by the DPR in consultation with the PPPRA as their officials have not been alive to their responsibilities in this direction. All the monies owed the PEF should be paid monthly to enable the fund meet its obligations to marketers and transporters on a monthly basis and to ensure industrial peace and harmony in the sector.”
According to NUPENG, “There is a need to build parking lots that will have all the necessary facilities like toilets, bathrooms, accommodation in the complex where tanker drivers on distribution trips can rest and take off to their destinations the next day.