NARTO Ends Two-Day Suspension of Petroleum Product Lifting Operations
The two-day suspension of petroleum product lifting operations by the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has been ended, as announced by oil transporters in Abuja. This decision came after intervention from the Federal Government, specifically the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.
Lokpobiri, along with NARTO President Yusuf Othman, confirmed the resolution, stating that stakeholders in the downstream oil sector agreed to increase freight rates for petroleum transporters and address other concerns raised by tanker operators.
The meeting, attended by government officials, NARTO representatives, and industry stakeholders, commenced on Monday and concluded on Tuesday after resolving some of NARTO’s demands.
“We have made agreements, and NARTO members have agreed to resume operations to alleviate the challenges faced by Nigerians in accessing petroleum products,” Lokpobiri explained.
The suspension of NARTO operations led to fuel queues in various states and the Federal Capital Territory. NARTO had previously expressed concerns about the high cost of diesel needed to operate their trucks for petroleum transport nationwide.
However, following the Tuesday meeting, Othman confirmed the end of the strike and encouraged NARTO members to resume operations, citing agreements reached to improve freight rates and address operational challenges.
