The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has distanced itself from the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its allies.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, ADITOP’s National President, Alhaji Lawan Dan-Zaki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the strike, which NUPENG says is in protest against alleged anti-labour practices linked to Dangote Refinery’s deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks, is “uncalled for.”
NUPENG had earlier warned that its industrial action, which began Monday, could trigger widespread fuel scarcity.
Dan-Zaki, however, argued that Dangote Refinery’s direct distribution programme was designed to cut logistics costs, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“We, members of ADITOP, hereby inform the general public and the Federal Government that we dissociate ourselves from any intended strike or disruption by NUPENG and its cohorts,” he said. “We intend to continue moving petroleum products across the country without fear of molestation.”
The ADITOP president stressed that the refinery’s initiative would help sanitise the downstream sector, stabilise supply and distribution, and create jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerians.
According to him, the association fully supports any petroleum products distribution scheme aimed at delivering products seamlessly to end-users while driving national development.
