Petroleum Tanker Drivers Call Off Protest, Accuse NSCDC Of Selling Off Seized Petrol
The protesting Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have called off their protest. They called off their protest at the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) in Port Harcourt, following its refusal to release their petrol and petrol trucks seized last year.
Protest
PTD had on Wednesday morning, barricaded the entrance to the office of the NSCDC and a section of the Olu Obasanjo road in Port Harcourt, asking the agency to release their trucks and petrol as directed by a court.
The National Vice Chairman of PTD, Ola Oluwa who addressed members of the union, after a stakeholders’ meeting with NSCDC, said the security agency promised to release their products on the 28 of June.
“We have papers backing every product we load and we don’t go for illegal products.” – Zonal Public Relations Officer of PTD, Johnbosco Alex Bosco
The tanker drivers are not backing down on their demands from the NSCDC, despite the end of the protest. The PTD has threatened to shut down operations in the country if the NSCDC fails to release their petrol tankers and petroleum product seized last year’s August over allegations of transporting adulterated petrol, as promised.
Bosco alleged that the NSCDC has not only sold the product worth N70,000,000 per truck but has also defaced the tanker trucks, despite the judgement of the State High Court. He said they had proof that the drivers loaded the petrol from government-approved depots in Lagos and Delta States.
Legal Complications
The NSCDC said a Federal High Court in Rivers State had given it an order for the forfeiture of petroleum products in the three trucks seized from tanker drivers last year August, for allegedly carrying adulterated petroleum products.
Ayodele said before selling the petrol, the NSCDC had placed adverts to auction the products but was informed 9 months after, that NUPENG had also gotten a judgement in their favour, for the release of their trucks and their product.
The NSCDC PRO said the agency is working seriously to ensure the matter is resolved but denied changing the colour of the trucks seized. He said the NSCDC is committed to stopping oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.
Regardless of what happens, the PTD is hoping to get their trucks and petrol back and proceed with their operations.
