Nigeria: Fuel Scarcity Hits Rivers As NUPENG Embarks On Strike
By Bashiru Abdullahi, 12 June 2012

Port Harcourt — Residents of Rivers State are experiencing fuel scarcity as tanker drivers and members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) stopped lifting petroleum products in the state. The development, it was gathered, followed the arrest of 10 of its members by a task force in the state.

Long queues have returned to most filling stations in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, just as the state's task force on management of petroleum products yesterday sealed some filling stations for selling above pump price.

Some motorists, who spoke to Daily Trust complained of spending several hours on queues to get fuel. It was also gathered that 10 tankers drivers, who are members of NUPENG were last week arrested by an inter ministerial task force in the state, and charged before a Magistrate Court over road obstruction and indiscriminate parking at Abonema Wharf area of Port Harcourt.

The state's Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Tami Danagogo in a chat with newsmen at the weekend, confirmed the arrest of the drivers, adding that the task force will continue to arrest tanker drivers, as well as ground any tanker found obstructing the free flow of traffic in the state.

"The problem we have is that NUPENG people and these tanker drivers think that they are above the law. The earlier they realize that they cannot be above the law in Rivers State, the better for them," Danagogo said.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate's Court has adjourned the case to June 28. The tanker drivers were arraigned over a two count charge of indiscriminate parking and assault.

Source : -http://allafrica.com/stories/201206120441.html

When are we going to remove this Union from our setup?
A set of arrogant and lawless people who think they can hold the country to ransom at any opportunity !!