The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has threatened to withdraw the services of its members in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State from midnight of November 6.
The union stated its position in a letter it addressed and sent to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The letter was titled: “Criminal and violent acts inimical to lives, properties and industrial peace and harmony in Lagos State: Demand for urgent actions.”
It read, “We are deeply constrained to bring to your urgent attention, the unwholesome activities of some criminal elements parading themselves along Lekki Free Trade Zone Road, Eleko Ibeju, Lekki, as Community youths under the name of Indigenous unity Forum, harassing, intimidating and extorting money from every petroleum truck driver, who are NUPENG/PTD members plying the road.
“As a responsible and peace-loving organisation with no control or knowledge of weapons of violence, coupled with the fact that our members, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers are only out to serve Lagos State and the nation in general for effective and efficient distribution of petroleum products for industrial and domestic uses as well as to search for sources of livelihood for themselves and their families, we have no other duty and obligation than to demand that your excellency should as matter of urgency put a final stop to the unwholesome activities of these criminals and similar elements across the state, otherwise we would have no other options than to direct our members, that for the sake of safety to their lives and properties to stay off the entire Lagos State until sanity, law and order are restored.
“They also appear to be working for some big individuals and personalities in the state as all directives and instructions from police authority are treated with disdain and levity.
“With a deep sense of responsibility and duty, we are constrained to notify you sir, that if this matter is not finally resolved and sanity restored to this route by midnight of Sunday 6th of November 2022, we shall have no other option than to direct our members (Petroleum Tanker Drivers) to stay off the roads of Lagos State so as to protect their lives and property.
“We are also by this letter notifying the people of the state, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and the Managing Director Of Pinnacle Oil & Gas Company Ltd. of our intended directive to the petroleum tanker drivers to stay off Lagos State roads as from midnight November 6th, 2022, if nothing is done to safeguard their lives and properties.”
