By Godfrey AKON
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, has assured stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that funding earmarked for the 21 critical road infrastructures across the country will be applied for the intended purpose.
The company gave the assurance while providing updates on the current status of the road construction and rehabilitation projects under the road infrastructure tax credit scheme, during a Critical Stakeholders’ Engagement between the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, in Abuja.
The meeting which led to the suspension of their planned strike was also attended by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
A communique issued at the end of the engagement allayed fears expressed by stakeholders as NNPC and all parties committed to working together in the monitoring of the road projects.
The communique was jointly signed by the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, National Chairman PTD, Otunba Salmon Oladiti, NARTO President, Mr Yusuf Otthman, NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and Executive Director, Finance and Admin, NMDPRA, Abiodun Adeniji.
“The stakeholders requested for completion of the ongoing discussion on the review of the freight rates to cover operational costs and highlighted the precarious situation that truck owners face in the light of current economic realities.
“NMDPRA informed the meeting that a committee has been constituted to review the rates which includes PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.
“All parties agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the Government. The Authority to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022,” the communique said.
On collaboration on ensuring Nationwide availability of petroleum products, all parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country.
