Thousands of commercial vehicles’ passengers were stranded on Wednesday morning as filling stations in Port Harcourt, embarked on strike over the arrest of some tanker drivers and seizure of their vehicles.
All filling stations visited by our correspondent in different parts of Port Harcourt were not dispensing fuel to motorists and other consumers since midnight on Tuesday after another tanker was said to have been seized by the Army.
On Monday, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Rivers Branch called on the Nigerian Army to conduct proper investigation before seizing trucks of petroleum products considered illegal.
IPMAN Chairman, Rivers State, Dr Obele Ngechu, who stated this to our correspondent, Tina Amanda, said the regular arrest of their trucks by the Army is causing untold hardship to petroleum marketers, as most marketers collect loans to buy products.
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According to him, over three hundred trucks have been seized by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Bori Camp Port Harcourt, adding that some of the trucks are not involved in bunkering activities.
“Army should keep doing what they are doing, but they should investigate properly to ensure that they arrest illegal trucks and leave the genuine trucks. The seizure of genuine trucks is really bringing pains to marketers, imagine where a marketer will take a loan from Bank, load from government-approved tank farm, then on the way to the station, Army Officers will say it is a bunkery product.
“And while the truck is detained by the Army, the marketer is paying interest on the loan, and there is every tendency that the marketer may lose the contract for which the product was bought. This is a really hard time for marketers and we can not help”
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He, however, affirmed that members of IPMAN are not involved in illegal petroleum products business, as they are duly registered.
“I will stand here to tell you that no member of IPMAN is involved in the illegal petroleum business, we have few Nigerians who are into such business. Investigation reveals that members of IPMAN are not the people engaging in bunkery, we are duly licensed by DPR and PPMC respectively, so we are not involved in bunkery”
Dr Ngechu advised Rivers residents not to panic buy as filling stations in the state are all open for business while urging the public to stop using Kpo fire as it is highly inflammable and dangerous to health.
Also, NUPENG National Vice President, Port Harcourt Zone, Comrade Lucky Etuokwu, stressed that the union will not hesitate to embark on the intended strike if the decision reached with the NUPENG, IPMAN, General Commanding Officer GOC 6 division and the state government is not carried out.
He further stressed that the Nigerian Army should work in accordance with the agreement and release their trucks which is conveying genuine products.
“After giving us assurance of the release of those trucks and later it was not released, definitely we will have no option than to embark on strike because the Army has given us their word. As a Union, we are working based on what they have told us. By the special grace of God, we are believing they work according”
