NUPENG Plans Strike Over JTF’s Burning Of Tankers

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers Unit of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Rivers are poised to embark on strike over the latest mandate of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) to burn tankers/trucks allegedly involved in what the JTF considered “illegal engagement in oil theft, bunkering and carriage of petroleum products”

The Tide learnt from reliable sources within the union’s leadership that the union was strategising and working out modalities to coordinate the intended strike to make it effective.

The source said the union considered the recent JTF mandate as direct attack on the members’ trucks and to cripple their services.

The source who pleaded anonymity said “the JTF is going beyond its mandate of maintenance of security and restoration of peace to burn our members’ tanker trucks without any verifiable and justifiable reasons other than mere allegation”.

The union said JTF needs to dialogue with the leadership of the union on any alleged involvement of member in illegal carriage of crude oil or petroleum products before embarking on burning the tanker trucks.

The union reiterated that its members are not directly involved in any illegal bunkering. It advised the JTF hierarchy to monitor the activities of its men on guard duty within the coastal areas of the Niger Delta Region.

The union said members of the NUPENG are prepared to partner with the JTF to check illegal bunkering and handover any of the union member caught engaging in illegal bunkering to the security agencies for possible prosecution.

The Tide investigation revealed that recently along the Eleme-East West Road axis men of the JTF had set ablaze two tanker trucks suspected to have been involved in illegal carriage of petroleum products.

One of the tanker trucks with registration number KC 201 JJ was set ablaze on Monday having been traced by men of JTF from Okrika jetty carrying the suspected illegal petroleum product.

The Tide similarly learnt at the (PTD) NUPENG office at Port Harcourt Refinery Depot Alesa-Eleme that men of the JTF had recently burnt six tanker trucks of the union members at Elele in Ikwerre local government area of the state for allegedly carrying illegal petroleum products. Also burnt at Eleme junction was truck with registration no XW 110 PHC.

However, one of the tanker trucks owners who simply identified himself as Alhaji Abubakar lamented what he described as alleged frame up by men of the JTF to burn his truck.

He said “my truck never engages in any illegal carriage of petroleum product. I am surprised of this allegation and how did men of the JTF ascertain that the content or product was illegal”?

When The Tide visited the 2nd Brigade Command of the Nigeria Army to see the TaskForce spokesperson and Acting Public Relations Officer of the Brigade, Captain Sanni Samuel, our reporter was told he was out for a meeting.

The view of the 2nd Brigade Command of the Nigeria Army Legal officer, Captain Chidi was also sought on the new mandate of the JTF to burn tankers trucks engaged in illegal carriage of petroleum product, but The Tide efforts proved abortive as he was out for a meeting.

On June 20, 2012, men of the JTF had arrested eleven tanker trucks along the Iriebe-Oyigbo Road for engaging in alleged illegal carriage of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, the National President of the union, Comrade Igwe Achese has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the petroleum sector as a result of the state of the nation’s refineries.

Comrade Achese told newsmen that the state of emergency will enable the federal government give priority attention to the nation’s refineries.

He called for regular maintenance of the refineries to enable them product at its optimal capacity.

The union’s president urged the National Assembly to pass the PIB bill in the interest of the oil and gas sector.

Philip Okparaji