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Why Petroleum Tanker Drivers Called Off Strike — NARTO President
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
The President, Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Lawal, on Friday, said the union called off its industrial action following the intervention of the Federal Government.
He noted that the union is offering its services at a loss due to the cost of subsidy removal and the rise in the cost of the dollar.
The union, however, called on the Federal Government to come up with policies aimed at alleviating the plight of truck drivers in the country.
Represented by the Union’s Coordinator of National Operations, Kassim Bataiya, at a meeting between the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), NARTO, and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday, Lawal highlighted the critical role of truck drivers in the petroleum products supply chain.
According to Bataiya, the movement of petroleum products and supplies relies on petroleum tankers and trucks which makes the road too busy and prone to damage all the time.
READ ALSO:Petrol Tanker Drivers Suspend Nationwide Strike
“After nobody expressed willingness to negotiate with us, we had no option but to park the trucks and wait for further intervention. It is unfortunate that our services are not recognized by the Federal Government and even by the citizens of this country.
“Let me give you a typical example. We are paid N30 per litre to lift Petroleum Motor Spirit from Lagos to the NNPC depot in Suleja. N30 per litre of 40,000 litres is N1.2m.
“The truck consumes a minimum of 900 litres of diesel at N1,500 per litre which is about N1.450m, which is N250 above the fret rate.
“The N1.3m fret rate is subject to 5 per cent withholding tax deducted and payable to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which is shared to the three tiers of government without even thinking or considering the drivers allowance, wages, salaries. So, it is difficult if not impossible for a transporter to load a truck from Lagos to any depot .
“The emergence of NARTO was as a result of the failure of NNPC now NNPCL to put our pipelines in operation. If we had our pipelines across the country which were designed to move petroleum products from where it was produced or imported to the various NNPC deports across Nigeria, we wouldn’t have these problems.
READ ALSO: Petrol Tanker Falls, Spills Content In Anambra
“We are happy that the committee invited us to this meeting at this crucial time in our nation’s history where our economy is faced with high inflation and the deteriorating exchange rate of the naira.”
Bataiya further explained that transporters in Nigeria, especially petroleum transporters, are working under extreme operational challenges which include the high cost of vehicle maintenance, the high cost of spare parts, road conditions, insecurity, and lots more.
“It is not possible for us to operate optimally because all the components of trucks today are import-dependent. We import tyres, batteries, spare parts, and even vehicles are imported at a high cost of the dollar exchange rate. Unfortunately for us, transportation is not even in the classification of dollar allocation.
“We are not entitled to apply for dollar allocation from the Central Bank of Nigeria to import the spare parts and accessories of the vehicle,” he added.
Continuing, Bataiya noted that “Recently, the Petroleum Industry Act was passed which signifies the end of the deregulated environment where the activities of the centre are left to the power of demand and supply. This implies that payment of transporters’ fret is left to be negotiated between the marketers and transporters.
READ ALSO: Senate Passes South East Development Commission Bill
“Remember that on May 29, 2023, the President in his inaugural speech announced the removal of fuel subsidy with immediate effect. Since then, the cost of transportation has remained the same.
“We have made all effort as obtained in the Act to negotiate with the marketers with a view to arrive at a rate to assist us continue with the work we are doing to supply petroleum products across the country. All efforts to sit with the marketers proved abortive.”
Addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the the representatives of NARTO) and PETROAN, the Chairman of the Committee, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said that the meeting resolved to monitor closely the ongoing repair of the country’s refineries.
He said the committee also agreed with NARTO and PETROAN to investigate the activities of retail owners who pay for petroleum products and middlemen who sell the products to the real petrol outlet owners, which is the reason the price keeps rising.
“We also agreed to a stakeholders’ recommendation from NARTO, PETROAN and others to help in tackling some of the immediate and long-term needs in the industry to help ensure stability.”
He also explained that the committee also agreed to take legislative action to look into how to reduce the freight cost by ensuring the dredging of the seaport that can open vessel landing corridors in other sectors apart from Lagos, Warri, Port-Harcourt, Calabar, and others.
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News
BREAKING: Former Inspector-General Of Police, Solomon Arase, Is Dead
Published
3 hours agoon
August 31, 2025By
Editor
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
As of the time of filing this report, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official statement confirming the development.Japan trip
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).Japan trip
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Before becoming IGP, he headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s top intelligence unit.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1980, and joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981.
News
Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef
Published
21 hours agoon
August 30, 2025By
Editor
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.
This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.
It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.
He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.
READ ALSO:Adeleke Flies To US For Davido’s Wedding
The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.
Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.
The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.
Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Hosts Gov Adeleke, Deji Adeleke, Davido In Lagos
The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.
Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”
READ ALSO:It’s Like He Came Back – Davido Discloses Son’s Resemblance To Late Ifeanyi Adeleke
A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”
The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)
News
Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools
Published
22 hours agoon
August 30, 2025By
Editor
The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.
The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.
The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Kastina Commissioner Assassinated
According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.
“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.
The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.
READ ALSO:Katsina, UNDP To Return 270,000 IDPs To Ancestral Homes
“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”
The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.
The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.
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