Filling stations across Rivers State have shut down operations following a dispute between the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Dangote Refinery, as well as allegations by the Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, accusing the refinery of monopolization.
DAILY POST FOUND on Tuesday that most filling stations in parts of Port Harcourt were closed, while the few still operating had long queues of customers struggling to buy fuel.
Meanwhile, there was also a noticeable scarcity of commercial vehicles on the roads, possibly due to their inability to purchase petrol.
In the meantime, PETROAN says it is closely monitoring the ongoing engagements between the Dangote Refinery, NUPENG, other stakeholders, and the Federal Government.
The Rivers State Chairman of PETROAN, Francis Dimkpa, in an interview with DAILY POST, said the association will comply with the directive from its national leadership in solidarity with NUPENG against what it described as “modern-day slavery” by the Dangote Refinery.
Dimkpa stressed that PETROAN will not allow anyone to take advantage of the situation or compromise the security of filling stations in Rivers State.
He added that the association’s compliance team will be on ground to ensure adherence to the temporary shutdown directive in the state.
Dimkpa said, “Rivers State chapter will comply fully with the message from the Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria in solidarity with NUPENG against modern day slavery by Dangote and we shall not allow anybody to take advantage of the situation, undermine the peace, undermine the security of our filling stations in Rivers State.
“The compliance team of PETROAN Rivers State, will be moving round to overage the situation.”
NUPENG vs Dangote: Filing stations shutdown operations in Rivers
