Fuel scarcity looms as petrol tanker drivers withdraw services nationwide

Fuel scarcity looms in Nigeria as the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, withdraws its service nationwide on Monday, February 19, due to economic hardship caused by high operational costs and low freight rates.
In a letter signed by the national president, Yusuf Lawal Othman, to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, indicated that service withdrawal commences from today, Monday.
The Association said it had made several efforts to negotiate with the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, and other critical stakeholders in the industry for appropriate and commensurate freight rates for its operations but received no positive responses.
The notice of withdrawal of their services and operations portends serious implications for the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, as NARTO controls over 80 per cent of the petroleum transportation in Nigeria.