The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has announced the end of its two-day suspension of petroleum product transportation following successful negotiations with the Federal Government.
The suspension, which caused notable fuel queues in various states and the Federal Capital Territory, was lifted after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday evening.
The breakthrough came with the intervention of Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), who facilitated a dialogue between NARTO and other key stakeholders in the downstream oil sector.
The meeting, which began on Monday and continued into Tuesday, led to a consensus on increasing the freight rate for petroleum transporters and addressing other concerns of tanker operators.
Present at the negotiations were officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, headed by Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed, representatives of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, and others.
Minister Lokpobiri and NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, addressed journalists, confirming the agreements. “We have reached some agreements and members of NARTO have agreed to resume operations so as to reduce the plight faced by Nigerians with respect to getting petroleum products,” Lokpobiri stated.
The suspension by NARTO members was primarily driven by the escalating costs of diesel, crucial for powering their trucks. Prices per liter of diesel ranged from N1,250 to N1,400, varying by region.
In a statement last Thursday, Othman announced the planned suspension, citing operational costs surpassing total earnings.
However, following the resolution on Tuesday, Othman urged NARTO members to recommence operations. “The suspension of operations has been called off because we have reached some agreements and there is going to be improvement in our freight rate going forward. So we urge our members to resume operations to reduce the plights of Nigerians,” he affirmed.
