From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Fuel scarcity on Tuesday, hit Makurdi, the Benue State capital and its environs following a three day strike action embarked upon by Petrol Tanker Drivers affiliated to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in the State.
Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, in the state, also joined the strike in solidarity with drivers and shut down their filling stations throughout Makurdi.
investigation by our correspondent revealed that a Petrol Tanker Driver was attacked by some youths fews years back where his truck was damaged and petrol product lost.
The development made NUPENG to engage in protest and later embarked on indefinite strike before the intervention of the immediate past government of former governor Samuel Ortom.
A member of IPMAN and a manager in one of the fuel stations in Makurdi who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak to the press, said the State Government failed to honour agreement entered with leadership of the unions.
According to them, State government earlier agreed to pay for the fuel truck that was damaged by the youths who attacked the tanker drivers at Aliade town in Gwer LGA of the State few years ago.
“This matter has been on ground since the last administration of former governor Samuel Ortom. When NUPENG and IPMAN were protesting over the matter then, the then governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom stepped in, and promised to pay the damage.
“He failed to pay for the damage as promised until he left office in 2023. And when this new administration came on board, NUPENG and IPMAN approached the present Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and he shunned them, insisting that he will pay no dime over what he knows nothing about.
“The leadership of the two Unions had decided that we go on three days warning strike and wait for further actions. All the fuel station managers were directed to shutdown their respective stations. And that, any station find selling products to anyone or vehicle will pay a fine of N500,000”, the said..
As at 6:00am today (Tuesday) when all independent petrol marketers, major marketers and NNPC Mega Stations shutdown, black markers were seen selling petroleum products at between the rate of N1,500 to N1,700 per litre depending on your locations.
When contacted, the Benue State chairman of NUPENG, Terfa Iorhule said he is currently in Lagos on official and could not give details of what necessitated today’s warning strike.
“You will give me time till 6pm today to enable me give you full details about the today’s strike. I am in Lagos right now, I only heard of the strike but I have not confirm it yet”, Iorhule said.
Some of the motorists and other PMS users who spoke to our correspondent appealed to the NNPCL, the PTD and IPMAN to show more understanding with Benue State Government in the interest of the common man.
