The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), representing petroleum truck owners, has restated its decision to suspend services nationwide due to the combination of high operational costs and low freight rates.
In a letter to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), NARTO expressed frustration at the lack of positive responses from key stakeholders, including the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), despite efforts to negotiate favorable freight rates. With NARTO controlling over 80% of petroleum transportation in Nigeria, the impending withdrawal of its services poses a significant threat to the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
Former Senator Shehu Sani, in response to this development, highlighted the potential repercussions, stating that the suspension of operations by NARTO could halt the supply of petroleum products, exacerbating the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians. Sani urged swift resolution through dialogue to avoid further complications in the already challenging landscape of petroleum product distribution in the country.