The fuel scarcity being experienced in some parts of the country is expected to end today as petroleum tanker drivers have agreed to call off their strike and begin the lifting of petroleum products.
Rising from a meeting convened by major oil marketers yesterday, the tanker divers, a section of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees (NUPENG), resolved to call off the strike which the union embarked on since weekend to protest the June 2, 2007 deadline given them by a Federal Government task force, to stop parking their trucks on the roads or have them impounded and their owners prosecuted.
Dissatisfied with the order, the union directed its members across the country to stop the lifting of petroleum products until depot owners provide them with parking lots, a development which affected the supply of the products.
But following a resolution reached at the meeting yesterday between major marketers, and representatives of the drivers� union, the tanker drivers resolved to commence lifting of products from this morning.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview with THISDAY last night, Mr. Solomon Kilonko, chairman, Lagos Zone of the drivers� union said, the decision to resume duty followed an assurance that the government would properly develop the Orile (Lagos suburb) parking terminal so as to take care of the incessant parking problems currently being experienced in Lagos.
The drivers had last year accused the Lagos State government of delaying the completion of the multi-billion naira terminal said to have been financed by an undisclosed bank.
Kilonko also said the parties agreed that the marketers would negotiate with government to provide them with an alternative parking space pending the completion of the Orile terminal.
The parties, he also said, agreed that tank farm owners should appeal to the Federal Government to direct the task force to suspend action on the towing of their trucks until the issue of parking space is resolved.
He said their members would resume lifting of products from today but will give them two months to resolve the issue of space.
Also yesterday, spokesman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Mr. Taofeek Lawal confirmed the development, assuring that their drivers would resume full duty today.
Jun62007