Averting NUPENG’s Strike

Nigeria may soon experience another fuel scarcity as petrol tanker drivers, represented by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), are planning to go on strike due to the recrudescent condition of the country’s road network. The strike is set to commence on October 11. The government should address the concerns of the drivers and take immediate action to prevent any disruption in the fuel supply chain.
The union has expressed its worry and placed the blame on the retrogressing state of the Benin/Warri highway for the tragic petrol tanker accident that occurred on October 1. This unfortunate incident resulted in the loss of five lives and valuable assets, while numerous innocent Nigerians suffered injuries of varying degrees. The accident took place along the Ologbo axis of the Benin/Warri highway.
The retrograding condition of Nigerian roads has become a pressing issue for all citizens in recent years. In 2021, the Senate took a critical step by passing a resolution, urging the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the nation’s roads. This decision was prompted by the NUPENG’s threat to withdraw their services because of the deplorable state of the roads, which resulted in substantial losses for their members.
We are deeply concerned and taken aback by the lackadaisical attitude displayed by local, state, and federal governments towards addressing the declining state of Nigeria’s roads before the onset of the current rainy season. Despite numerous pleas and requests for necessary construction, repairs, and maintenance of our roads, they have failed to take appropriate action. Consequently, the roads have reached a parlous state and have become practically impassable.
It is disheartening to witness such a tragic incident that could have been avoided, if the government had been proactive. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims of the petrol tanker explosion at Ugbenu, along the Sapele-Benin Road in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, as well as their families. We strongly urge the Federal Government to swiftly address the bad sections of the highway and other similar issues that plague our nation.
Commuters travelling on the Benin-Warri Road endure unimaginable daily hardships, as they spend nearly five hours on a journey that should ideally take only one hour. This unfortunate situation is primarily due to the lamentable state of the road. Urgent measures must be taken to address the issue, as failure to do so could result in the isolation of the entire Niger Delta region from the rest of the country. We agree that the newly inaugurated task force on the rehabilitation of the road shows government attempt to repair the bad sections for smooth human and vehicular movement, but setting up a task force is not a solution. The solution is only possible if the rehabilitation is done swiftly to restore the road.
This is because it is the sole major road linking Edo and Delta states in the Niger Delta region and it is seriously impacting economic activities and the social lives of people who travel through this route daily. The public must remain vigilant and follow safety precautions, especially when encountering accidents or incidents involving hazardous materials. Additionally, it is important to resist the temptation of scooping fuel.
The incident serves as a clear indication of a larger issue: our excessive dependence on roads for the transportation of various commodities, ranging from people to fuel, to every nook and cranny of the nation. With roads being responsible for 90percent of both passenger and freight traffic, it is evident that they are bearing an overwhelming burden. This over-reliance has put immense strain on our road infrastructure, which varies in quality from good to poor across the country.
Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation and population growth require improved transportation infrastructure. However, road and rail systems have been insufficiently invested in, with a disproportionate focus on air travel. Air travel constitutes a small fraction of overall traffic with Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt functioning as primary air travel hubs. Unfortunately, Lagos faces severe traffic congestion, posing risks for transporting substantial petrol volumes via tankers in densely populated areas.
Trucks are inefficient for transporting petrol, as pipelines and trains are more effective. While working to revive underutilised refineries, the Federal Government must rehabilitate existing roads and also invest hugely on constructing cheaper alternatives like new rail networks or expanding existing ones. Creating pipelines to transport finished products from the Dangote refinery, once completed, would be a more cost-effective solution.
NUPENG warned of a similar nationwide strike last year because of the Federal Government’s failure to address the rehabilitation of 21 highways. They discovered evidence suggesting senior government officials misappropriated N621billion allocated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the project. Regrettably, those responsible have yet to be identified and prosecuted.
We urge NUPENG to reconsider their decision to trigger a strike, bearing in mind the burdened state of Nigerians. The Federal Government should initiate immediate discussions with the union to avoid another nationwide petrol scarcity. Rehabilitation of failed roads is necessary to prevent further hardships and fatalities for the poor masses. Furthermore, the Federal Government must address the allegations of extortion faced by petrol tanker drivers from security agents.
The tragic accident on Independence Day highlights Nigeria’s disregard for human life and the ongoing loss of lives because of negligence. Despite daily highway accidents, both federal and state governments have shown a lack of concern for the suffering of the poor masses who rely on dilapidated and unsafe roads for transportation. This is regrettable and highlights the need for better safety measures.