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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Fuel scarcity has hit Makurdi and its environs in Benue State following a three-day strike embarked upon by Petrol Tanker Drivers of NUPENG.
Members of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state also joined the strike in solidarity with drivers and shut down their filling stations throughout Makurdi.
It was gathered that a petrol tanker driver was attacked by some youths some years ago at Aliade town in Gwer East LGA, his truck was damaged and petrol product lost.
The development made NUPENG to engage in protest and later embarked on indefinite strike before the intervention of the immediate past Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom.
A member of IPMAN and a manager in one of the fuel stations in Makurdi who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak to the press, said the state government failed to honour the agreement entered into with leadership of their unions.
“This matter has been on ground since the last administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom. When NUPENG and IPMAN were protesting over the matter, the then governor stepped in and promised to pay the damage.
“He failed to pay for the damage as promised until he left office in 2023. And when this new administration came on board, NUPENG and IPMAN approached Governor Hyacinth Alia and he shunned them, insisting that he will pay no dime over what he knows nothing about.
“The leadership of the two unions has decided that we go on a three-day warning strike and wait for further actions. All the fuel station managers were directed to shutdown their respective stations. Any station found selling products to anyone or vehicle will pay a fine of N500,000,” he said..
At 6am yesterday, all independent petroleum marketers, major marketers and NNPC Mega Stations were shut while black markers cashed in on it to raise fuel price to between N1,500 and N1,700 per liter.
When contacted, Benue State chairman of NUPENG, Terfa Iorhule said he was away in Lagos on an official trip and could not give details of what necessitated the warning strike.
Some motorists who spoke appealed to the NNPCL, the PTD and IPMAN to show understanding with the government in the interest of the common man.
“The country is already hard and people are almost suffocating, adding fuel scarcity to the current hardships will choke us to death” a motorist, Terna Jude said.
