The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has assured critical, labour stakeholders in the oil and gas logistics sector that the road infrastructure tax credit scheme is on course.
Rising from a meeting with the stakeholders late yesterday in Abuja, the group managing director of the apex oil company said the funding earmarked for the 21 critical roads will be applied for the intended purpose only.
The stakeholders include the stakeholders of Nigeria Union of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers unions, as well as Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
In a communiqué signed by the listed unions and the management of the NNPC, the meeting stated under Road Rehabilitation, that the apex oil company provided updates on the current status of the road construction and ongoing rehabilitation projects.
“To allay the fears of the stakeholders, NNPC and all parties commit to working together in the monitoring of the road projects,” the communiqué said.
On Review of freight rate for transporters, 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 include PTD, NARTO and NUPENG in addition to other stakeholders.
All parties, the statement state, agreed to work expeditiously towards concluding the review of the freight rate and make recommendations to the federal government.
NMDPRA is expected to advise on definite close-out date during the week of 21st February 2022, the meeting agreed.
The engagement meeting, as it was called, also agreed to collaborate on ensuring nationwide availability of petroleum products. “All parties agreed to work closely to ensure efficient distribution of petroleum products across the country,” they said.
Present at the meeting were group managing director of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, NUPENG president, Comrade Williams Eniredonana Akporeha, the national chairman, PTD, Otunba S. A. Oladiti, NARTO president, Yusuf Otthman and the executive director, finance and administration, NMDPRA, Abiodun Adeniji.
By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
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