Nigeria faces impending fuel scarcity as the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) initiates a nationwide service withdrawal on Monday, February 19.
Citing economic hardships due to high operational costs and low freight rates, NARTO's national president, Yusuf Lawal Othman, conveyed the decision in a letter to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Despite efforts to negotiate with stakeholders like the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), NARTO received no favorable responses regarding appropriate freight rates.
Controlling over 80% of petroleum transportation in Nigeria, NARTO's service withdrawal will significantly impact the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.
In response, NARTO's National Executive Council directed its members to withhold petroleum trucks from loading activities starting February 19, 2024.
The association urged NUPENG members within its workforce to cooperate and comply with the directive, acknowledging the challenges posed by the country's economic situation.
Notifications of the service withdrawal were also dispatched to regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders, including the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (MMDPRA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the executive secretary of MEMAN.