afrol News, 22 April - The tanker drivers have suspended their strike yesterday after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reportedly paid the N2.7 million (US$18,366.72) penalty imposed on owners of the trucks impounded by the Lagos State Government over illegal parking.

Last Saturday, the tanker drivers embarked on an indefinite strike suspending the loading of petroleum products in Lagos demanding the release of the 50 trucks seized by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. The Lagos state authorities had demanded fines for illegal parking.

The four day strike has left most petrol stations in Lagos and the capital Abuja without petrol, sparking fear among consumers and commuters early Monday and Tuesday respectively. The strike nearly paralysed economic activities according to government officials.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Secretary-General, Najeem Korodo said the union has suspended the strike after the government secured the release of the 50 trucks.

The union officials said peace between the Lagos state government and the tanker drivers would only be achieved with the total elimination of extortion by the Lagos state armed forces and to halt the harassment and brutality of tanker drivers.

However, a statement by NNPC’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr Levi Ajuonuma, said the NNPC Management had acted on the initiative of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to intervene in the matter and succeeded in resolving the face-off between the drivers and Lagos state officials.

The official said the NNPC management was compelled more by the impact of the strike action on Nigerians rather than the activism of the tanker drivers.

“Given the challenges of administering a mega-polis, we commend the Lagos state government for its efforts at maintaining some measure of sanity on the roads, as well as its predisposition to having this matter resolved quickly,” NNPC said in the statement.

The NNPC has also urged the tanker drivers to abide by the laws rather than resorting to activism which has negative effects to the economy.

Nigeria, the world number eight oil producer, depends heavily on fuel imports despite being one of the world's top crude exporters.

Refined petroleum products are imported through the main seaports in Lagos and distributed by thousands of truckers across Africa's most populous country of 140 million people, who consume more than 30 million litres of gasoline a day, according to local reports.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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