The Petroleum Retail Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has advised residents of Rivers State not to panic over scarcity of fuel despite the nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
PETROAN national publicity secretary, Dr. Joseph Obele, who gave the advise in Port Harcourt, said the federal government’s intervention has eased the disruption of the supply of petroleum products.
“The strike has shut down the Dangote Refinery by PENGASSAN directing its members to shut down all the farms supplying crude oil and gas to Dangote Refinery.
“However, as PETROAN, we want to state clearly that there are no indications of fuel scarcity at the moment as the federal government has stepped in, urging PENGASSAN to suspended the strike and called for a reconciliation meeting the dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery,” Obele said.
He called on Dangote Refinery to respect Nigeria’s labour laws to avoid further disputes in the country’s petroleum sector.
The PETROAN spokesman said: “Dangote Refinery should respect Nigerian workers’ rights as enshrined in the country’s Constitution in Section 40 and Section 12, Article 4.
“We encourage Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN to take advantage of the meeting called by the federal government to make amicable resolutions. Both parties should priorities dialogue and negotiation to find emotional beneficial solutions.
“We advise the management of Dangote Refinery to improve it’s stakeholders relationship and engagement.”
