25th August, 2010
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos will embark on strike from Aug. 30 if their demands were not met.
Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, the Chairman, Western Zone of NUPENG, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that the union would call out the tanker drivers on an indefinite strike until the police re-arrest and prosecute those suspected to be sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“On 20 August, our taskforce got information that some people were adulterating diesel and Kerosene at AGS Burma Yard, situated at Itire on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.
“Our team moved swiftly, but was stopped at the gate by a detachment of policemen from Itire.
“I then called on the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State and reported the matter,” he said.
Korodo said that the commissioner gave him the number of Mushin Area Commander and “l called the commander and Divisional Police Officer before we were allowed into the yard.”
He said that 20 tankers and their drivers were caught mixing diesels with kerosene in the yard.
“They were promptly arrested and moved to Itire Police Station. From there, in company of some of our men, they were taken to Area ‘D’.
“At Area ‘D’, two patrol vans were drafted to join our men to ensure that no truck left the yard.
“We barricaded the yard and stationed our men to guard and monitor. But on Saturday, the police released all the 20 tankers,” he said.
Korodo said he intimated the Area Commander with the development but the officer said: “we should forget about it.”
He said: “We believe the police have been compromised in releasing the suspects and their tankers.â€
NAN recalls that the union had on Monday embarked on a one day warning strike by suspending the lifting of petroleum products to filling stations in Lagos.