The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Thursday said it was not planning to increase the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol. The NNPCL in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, urged Nigerians against panic buying of petrol.
The statement read, “NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to disregard unfounded rumours and assures them that there are no plans for an upward review of the PMS price. “Motorists nationwide are advised against engaging in panic buying, as there is presently ample availability of PMS across the country.”
The PUNCH reports that oil marketers expressed fears that there might be a scarcity of petrol if the NNPCL fails to make the product available to depot owners and other dealers. They said the long queues being experienced in filling stations and some parts of Ogun State might eventually spread to other parts of the nation should the NNPCL fail to sell enough petrol to distributors.
Long queues have since Monday resurfaced in different filling stations in Lagos State, causing traffic gridlock in Ikeja and other areas, as residents feared there might be a fresh scarcity of petrol. But speaking to one of our correspondents on Tuesday morning, Soneye had dismissed insinuations of fresh fuel scarcity. Soneye disclosed that NNPCL did not have supply issues, adding that its products remained readily available.
He added that the distribution issue in some areas had been resolved. “We are pleased to confirm that there are no supply issues and our products remain readily available.
“The recent tightness experienced in certain areas was due to a brief distribution issue in Lagos, which has since been resolved,” Soneye told our correspondent.
Organized Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Thursday gave the Federal Government an ultimatum of a nationwide strike that would take effect in 14 days. Both NLC and TUC in a statement gave FG the ultimatum to implement a 16-point agreement they reached with the government on October 2, 2023.
They said the agreement includes a call for a minimum wage increase of 30%, which the government has not honoured. Organized Labour said if the government does not meet the deadline, the unions will be left with no other choice than to embark on a nationwide strike.
“It is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice,” NLC and TUC stated. “Constrained by this development and recognising the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow (Friday), the 9th day of February 2024.”
The proposed nationwide strike could have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy, as the unions represent millions of workers across the federation.